The Vancouver Foodster 100 Mile Cocktail Challenge was successful featuring 7 creations in this challenge from restaurants and bars around Vancouver, Richmond and North Vancouver. Each restaurant featured their 100 Mile Cocktail Creation on their menu from July 4-27, 2014. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Cassandra Anderton, Dawn Chubai, Christine McAvoy and Brian Webb
The Winners are:
1st Place: The Stanley Park
Pinnacle Pier Hotel
The Stanley Park
Description: Martini
Ingredients: Yaletown Distilling Company Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, locally grown basil leaves, ‘Twisted Bitter’ Victoria Spirits, Rosemary grapefruit, Rabbit River Farms egg whites and garnish with basil leaf
Created by: Kelly Robert
Pinnacle Pier Hotel
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Tel: 604-986-7437
Web: http://pinnaclepierhotel.com/the_lobby.html
Twitter: @PinnaclePier
Kelly Roberts
2nd Place: The Blacktail Sour
Blacktail Florist
Description: The drink is a complex and vegital cocktail, with sour notes from the fresh pressed rhubarb and a delicate sweetness to finish
Ingredients: Long Table Distillery Gin, Odd Society Creme de cassis, Rhubarb, Local Honey Syrup, Egg Whites
Created by: Connor Gotowiec
Blacktail Florist
332 Water Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-669 -0249
Web: http://blacktailflorist.ca/
Twitter: @THEFLORISTbc
Connor Gotowiec
3rd Place: Apron Vesper
The Apron
Description: A local twist on the classic James Bond favourite
Ingredients: Long Table Distillery London Dry Gin, Long Table Distillery Texada Vodka, Triple Sec, Agnostura Bitters, Orange Twist
Created by: Allister Cave
The Apron
3099 Corvette Way, Richmond
Tel: 604-303-6565
Web: http://www.westinvancouverairport.com/dining
Twitter: @apronyvr
Allister Cave
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the 100 Mile Cocktail Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
ABODE Restaurant
Boa Bite
Description: The Boa Bite is a dry, incredibly refreshing cocktail inspired by the Snakebite and Black AKA Diesel – a popular cocktail from the UK made of lager or stout, hard cider and blackcurrant syrup. We’ve taken this favourite and replaced blackcurrant syrup with blackcurrant liqueur and added a fresh finish of muddled mint. Topped off with a garnish of house made caramel lacing, one sip from this cocktail will take you to the tropical climates where this exotic snake calls home.
Ingredients: Stanley Park Brewery Pilsner, Vancouver Island Merridale Traditional Craft Cider, Odd Society Spirit’s Crème de Cassis Liqueur, Mint (from our rooftop garden), Caramel garnish
Created by: Tannis Smith
ABODE Restaurant
1223 Robson Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604.688-1411
Web: http://www.aboderestaurant.ca/
Twitter: @ABODERestaurant
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Pinnacle Pier Hotel
The Stanley Park
Description: Martini
Ingredients: Yaletown Distilling Company Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, locally grown basil leaves, ‘Twisted Bitter’ Victoria Spirits, Rosemary grapefruit, Rabbit River Farms egg whites and garnish with basil leaf
Created by: Kelly Robert
Pinnacle Pier Hotel
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Tel: 604-986-7437
Web: http://pinnaclepierhotel.com/the_lobby.html
Twitter: @PinnaclePier
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Pan Pacific Hotel
Ruby Line
Description of drink- a tangy and refreshing summer sipping cocktail inspired by the St. John’s Newfoundland area known as the Ruby Line, where rhubarb grow wild and are a summer treat.
Ingredients: Long Table Distillery Gin, Glorious Organics rhubarb juice, Moondog cherry suis bitters, strawberry, vanilla bean syrup, rhubarb spear
Created by: Scott Moriarty
Pan Pacific Vancouver
999 Canada Place Way #300, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 662-8111
Web: http://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-resorts/canada/vancouver/stay/dining.html
Twitter: @panpacificvan
Thank you to all the bartenders, bars and restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured their 100 Mile Cocktails on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their 100 Mile Cocktails creations! See all the 7 Cocktail entries here.
By: Richard Wolak