Cocktail Movers & Shakers Mix At DIT Challenge

November’s DIT Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard Cocktail Challenge saw over 70 mixologists congregate in Dublin to put their drink making skills to the test.Now in its eighth year, the annual competition featured a range of categories including Best Short Drink Cocktail and Best Long Drink Cocktail. Cocktails were based on Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard premium spirits and liqueurs, and points were awarded for the appearance, aroma, taste and commercial appeal of each concoction. All entrants received certificates of participation, presented by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard brand manager and mixologist Liam Sparks.Overall winners included Timothy Carley’s “Young Love”, an Absolut vodka and De Kuyper cherry brandy based mix which scooped Best Long Drink Cocktail; as well as Emmet Newport’s “Plymouth on the Rocks”, which combined the eponymous gin with peach juice, cucumber and sugar syrup to claim the award for Best Technique Cocktail.Congratulating the winners, DIT lecturer in Bar Management Studies John Murphy reminded competitors, sponsors and supporters of the DIT Bar Management Studies commitment to providing on-going, challenging and innovative bar management and cocktail making programmes.