You must have legal drinking age to visist our website.
This year, 17 countries will compete to become the global Winner of Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition 2024. Bartenders and mixologists from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, UAE, and the United Kingdom will be able to take part. Each of the 17 countries will host a national competition and the respective winners will be invited to take part in the Global Final in Porto, Portugal from 19th to 22th May 2024.
(Global Winners)
€1000 Cash prize, 6 months' supply of Blend Nº5 & Blend Nº12* for the winner’s bar
€500 Cash prize, 2x cases of Blend Nº5 & Blend Nº12
€200 Cash prize, 1x case of both Blend Nº5 & Blend Nº12
Graham’s Blend Series represents a fresh and innovative take on port. Leading the way are Blend Nº5 White and Blend Nº12 Ruby Ports – the first wines we’ve blended specifically for mixing.
A contemporary feel and award-winning design from fashion illustrator António Soares, gives the Blend Series a striking and versatile presence on the cocktail scene and in the on-trade, while also standing out and offering something exciting in the off-trade. The Blend Series marks a new chapter in the history of port. It helps fuel the invention and creativity of bartenders and consumers alike, uplifting any #PortMoment regardless of setting, season, or occasion.
FIND OUT MOREWe are inviting all professional bartenders and mixologists to take part in the third edition of the Graham's Blend Series Cocktail Competition. Entrants need to create an original cocktail using either Graham’s Blend Nº5 White port or Blend Nº12 Ruby port that brings out the unique profile of each wine. You should submit your cocktail below selecting the correct country which you represent (country of residency). The shortlist will be contacted to take part in the national competition in your country where you will have 10 minutes to make your cocktail in front of a judging panel. The national competitions will take place in March 2024.
Cocktail Name – 10 points
Get creative and come up with a name that is both memorable and speaks to the ingredients of – and inspiration behind – your cocktail.
Inspiration - 20 points
What inspired you to create your cocktail and how does it link to the Blend Series and its provenance?
Replicability - 15 points
Are you able to consistently recreate your cocktail to the same standard and taste? This doesn't mean it has to be easy to prepare, but it shouldn't be prohibitively difficult or include ingredients that are not readily available.
Visual Presentation - 10 points
The judges will be looking for cocktails that are visually exciting and enticing. They will be considering presentation as a whole, visual appeal, and choice of garnish and colours.
Aroma - 15 points
Whether they're simple or complex, your cocktail's aromas should be both alluring and inviting – an indication of things to come.
Taste - 30 points
Is the drinking experience interesting and engaging? The judges will be looking for a well-balanced cocktail – do your ingredients make sense and work together?
Total = 100 points
1st Place: 4.5L Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny and an invitation to the Global Final in Portugal (flights, accommodation and meals included)
2nd Place: 4.5L Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny
3rd Place: A case of Graham’s Blend Nº12
- To be eligible to participate in the competition, candidates are required to be employed as professional bartenders or mixologists.
- There is a limit of one (1) cocktail entry per person.
- Entrants must specify an original name for their cocktail.
- Recipes must be expressed in millilitres, with dashes and/or drops being the smallest quantities.
- Contestants have 10 minutes each to prepare their cocktail in front of the panel of judges.
- The recipe must be port-based, with the dominant ingredient being either Graham’s Blend Nº5 White Port or Graham’s Blend Nº12 Ruby Port.
- The recipe must not contain port from any other brand.
- The recipe should contain readily available ingredients that are typically available to bars around the world.
- It is prohibited to use ingredients that contain tobacco, any type of drug, or psychotropic ingredient.
- Contestants must be available to travel to Porto for the final, arriving in Porto on the 19th of May and departing on the 22th of May.
ALINA BAZEN
GERMANY
JOERI VISSER
BELGIUM
XENNE AKPOTOR
NETHERLANDS
