For our first ever DropWorks competition, we wanted to challenge bartenders to create the best British spin on one of our favourite cocktail classics: the Daiquiri.
Founder & Master Distiller Lewis Hayes, HAUS Bitters creator David Jordan Melia and DropWorks Content Creator Eloise Knapman hit the road, travelling across the North to find the best British twist on a Daiquiri using DropWorks rum.
From childhood favourites and British produce to local history, the judges were blown away by the creativity and talent behind every serve.
After some very serious Daiquiri drinking, three drinks rose to the top…
FINALIST: Rich Hamer – Over & Above
Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club
A British twist on the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, combining Clear Drop, Funk Drop, homemade falernum, Burnt Faith Curacao, lime and ginger bitters. A proper Yorkshire take on a classic, packed with flavour.
FINALIST: Elliott Kynaston – McGuffie & Co.
Crimson Clover
A beautiful combination of Clear Drop and Funk Drop, cherry and sweet clover cordial, Campari and lime. Elliott took inspiration from peak British cherry season, while the sweet clover nods back to McGuffie & Co.’s origins as a chemist. In David’s words, “insanely crushable”.
WINNER: Charlotte Fisher-Smith – Farrands Bar
Little Fingers Up
Charlotte’s Little Fingers Up takes Clear Drop and turns it into a beautifully inventive nod to the quintessentially British afternoon tea. Inspired by her first ever afternoon tea at Harrods, the drink combines cucumber, cream cheese and dill as a tribute to the sandwich that always reminds her of moving to the UK from the States.
Using acid-adjusted, cream cheese-clarified cucumber juice, dill syrup and Clear Drop, Charlotte also found clever ways to minimise waste by using the offcuts of the dill. A wonderfully personal story, seriously clever technique and a Daiquiri we couldn’t stop talking about. Lewis even scored her 10/10 in every judging category! A very well deserved win.
A huge congratulations to Charlotte, Elliott and Rich and a massive thank you to every bartender who took part!
Also shortlisted:
Jake Brown at Sock & Buskin – Eton Mess Daiquiri
Anand Dipak Chauhan at 10 Tib Lane – Butter Berry Daiquiri
Jonathan Clutterbuck at Blinker – Home Glory
Harry Medlock at Stray – Ice Cream Daiquiri
Jack Hoyle at McGuffie & Co – Hemingway Shandy
Sam Almond at Swinton Park Estate- Swinton’s Secret
Daniel Gore at Jigger & Jar – Rhubarb & Custard
Joe Brooke at Jigger & Jar- Pioneer’s Path
This first competition was a very difficult one to judge, but we had the best time seeing the creativity on show. Until the next!