From Jamaican Gleaner, Sep. 13, 2012

Over the past month the best bartenders across the island gave it their all to see who would represent Jamaica against bartenders from Mexico, the United States, Peru, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingston and the Cayman Islands in the finals to be held in Kingston next month.

Five finalists – Sherica Morgan of OMG restaurant and bar represented Mandeville; Ryan Mitto of Bars to go represented Kingston; John Samuels of Grand Palladium; represented the Negril region; Cleverton Little of Pier One, for Montego Bay; and Gregory Shaw of Gran Bahia Principe, who won the Ocho Rios heat, gathered at the Knutsford Court hotel last Firday to shake, stir and blend their very best concoctions.

At the end of the night Mitto came out on top with his Appleton 6:30 and ‘Neighbourhood Watch’.

“I want to raise the bar for bartending in Jamaica. A lot of other countries are far ahead of us with this skill. Today, I brought a sample of one of my edible cocktails and I plan on continuing to experiment with different tastes and textures in preparation for the international challenge,” notes Mitto after his victory. Try your hand at their winning cocktails below; maybe you could be the next champion bartender.

 

 

Appleton 6:30 – Ryan Mitto

1oz honey

¹/² oz fresh lime

1¹/²oz orange juice

1¹/²oz cranberry juice

1¹/²oz Appleton Estate V/X

¹/²oz Wray & Nephew White Rum

2-5 dashes Angostura orange bitters

Directions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice, shake vigorously. Pour over crushed ice in rocks glass.

Neighbourhood Watch

¹/⁸oz molasses

¹/²oz fresh lime juice

2 oz pineapple juice

1¹/²oz pomegranate syrup

1¹/²oz Appleton Estate V/X Infused with thyme, ginger & Scotch bonnet pepper

Directions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice, shake vigorously. Pour over crushed ice in rocks glass.

OMG-G Spot – Sherica Morgan

2oz Appleton Estate Reserve Jamaica Rum

Shavings of Scotch bonnet pepper

2oz evaporated milk

2oz créme de cocoa

3 drops Angostura bitters

Directions: Combine liquid ingredients and shake over ice.

Pour mixture in a rock glass and put pepper shavings on top. Garnish with chocolate flakes.

Tropical Storm

2oz Appleton Estate V/X Jamaica Rum

1.5oz créme de banana

1oz orange juice

Directions: Chill martini glass. Pour all ingredients in shaker over ice. Shake until chill and pour in chilled martini glass. Garnish with ripe banana, orange wedge and cherry.

Passion Reserve – Gregory Shaw

2oz passion papaya juice

1oz pumpkin juice

¹/²oz peach schnapps

¹/⁴oz triple sec

1¹/²oz Appleton Estate Reserve

Dash of brown sugar

Directions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice, shake vigorously. Pour over ice in highball glass.

Appleton Jubilee

1oz hibiscus extract

1oz cucumber extract

¹/⁴ oz fresh lime juice

¹/⁴oz ginger extract

¹/²oz Apricot liqueur

Dash of Angostura bitters

1oz Appleton Estate V/X

Directions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice, shake vigorously. Pour over crushed ice in rocks glass.

Sop Atap – John Samuels

¹/²oz coconut rum

1¹/²oz Appleton Estate Reserve Jamaica Rum

2¹/²oz pineapple juice

1¹/²oz orange juice

5oz soursop pulp

2tsp brown sugar

Splash of lime juice

2 drops Angostura bitters

Directions: Add soursop pulp to shaker with brown sugar then muddle.

Add remaining ingredients, shake vigorously and pour in hurricane glass.

Melodious

¹/²oz Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum

1¹/²oz Appleton Estate V/X Jamaica Rum

4oz melon

¹/²oz apricot liqueur

3oz pineapple juice

Splash of lime juice

Splash of strawberry syrup

Directions: Muddle melon in shaker, add remaining ingredients, shake vigorously and pour in highball glass

Summer Blaze – Cleverton Little

¹/²oz bell pepper

1 ¹/²oz Appleton Estate V/X Jamaica Rum

2oz cranberry juice

1 lime wedge

3 drops special jerk sauce

3 drops Angostura bitters

Directions: Muddle sweet peppers and lime with bitters and syrup in a shaker. Add Appleton V/X, cranberry juice and jerk sauce. Add ice and shake. Strain into a martini glass and garnish.

Roots Rock

3oz sarsaparilla and strong back extract

2oz pineapple juice

¹/⁴oz simple syrup

1¹/²oz Appleton Estate Extra Jamaica Rum

A splash of coconut water

Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice, stir and pour over ice. Pour over ice in rocks glass.

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