The results are in. The winner of the O.V.D. Discover the Dark Side of Rum Cocktail Competition is Julija Bernatovica from the Kelvingrove Café in Glasgow.
Originally from Riga in Latvia, Julija has been working in the bar trade for two years and won over the judges with her Wanted Kidd cocktail, a delicious combination of O.V.D., Cocchi Amaro and apple, toffee and rosemary syrup that was deemed by the panel as the perfect drink for the autumn and winter months.
Top bartenders
Julija won the £1000 top prize. Second place in the contest went to Ben Louthean from the Tiki Bar and Kitsch Inn (Glasgow) with Paul Donegan from Clouds and Soil (Edinburgh) in third.
Nine competitors participated in the O.V.D. Cocktail Competition Grand Final which was held at the Tiki Bar in Glasgow. They each earned a spot in the event by being placed in the top three of the competition heats which were held in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the North of Scotland. In total over 40 of Scotland’s top bartenders took part in the competition.
Perfect for colder months
Paul Curry, O.V.D.’s brand manager and one of the competition judges commented: ‘The standard of competition has been incredible this year. At each heat the bartenders have showcased not only great skill and fabulous tasting cocktails but also extensive brand knowledge and intriguing back-stories for their cocktail creations.
‘Selecting the final winner was exceptionally difficult but the judges all agreed that Julija’s cocktail perfectly fulfilled the brief to create a drink that was delicious, easy to replicate and perfect for enjoying during the colder months. O.V.D. has been the best selling dark rum in Scotland for decades and has a long history but this competition demonstrates how versatile it is as a base for contemporary cocktails.’
Wanted Kidd
Here is Julija’s recipe for her Wanted Kidd:
Recipe
50ml O.V.D
15ml Cocchi Amaro
10ml apple, toffee & rosemary syrup
4 dashes citrus acid
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir all the ingredients together and serve straight up. Julija served her drink with caramelised, salted walnuts on the side.
More information on the competition and the recipes for some of the drinks created by the competing bartenders can be found here.