Adam DelGiudice of the Florida Room was named "Most Inspired Bartender" by the United States Bartender's Guild in Miami last evening at Haven in South Beach.
DelGiudice won for his Rangoon Rising cocktail. The event, which was sponsored by Bombay Sapphire, pitted two dozen Miami-area bartenders against each other in a contest to see who could create the most inspired libation using Bombay Sapphire gin.
Each bartender was given time to make two identical drinks for judges
Jeff McInnis (chef/owner of the soon-to-open Yardbird Southern Table &
Bar) and Gary Hayward (Bombay Sapphire brand ambassador). They were
allowed to chat up the judges, who asked questions and tasted some of
the more unusual infusions and ingredients in the drinks.
While McInnis and Hayward tasted and judged the contestants for both the
deliciousness and uniqueness of their creations, the second drink was
carried to a team of judges that tasted and judged the cocktails
blindly, not letting the bartenders' charms and banter sway them.
DelGiudice will travel to Las Vegas in September to
compete against 51 other hopefuls for the national title. The winner will
be profiled along with his or her winning cocktail in the December 2011 GQ
"Men of the Year" issue.
Here's DelGiudice's winning cocktail recipe:
Rangoon Rising
Created by Adam DelGiudice
1 1/2 oz. Bombay Sapphire gin
1/2 oz. lemongrass-infused Bianco vermouth
1/2 oz. Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters
Shake until blended. Strain into chilled class.
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