Vancouver bartenders Jacob Sweetapple of Fairmont Pacific Rim and Justin Taylor of Four Seasons YEW Restaurant + Bar are headed to the Giffard International Cocktail Challenge in October.
Last May, local mixologists Danielle Tartarin of Keefer Bar and Justin Tisdale of Market by Jean-George put Vancouver on the international cocktail map by placing first and second at the Giffard competition. (See “Vancouver mixologists garnering worldwide attention” – BIV Business Today, May 28, 2010.)
Sweetapple and Taylor qualified to represent Canada at the upcoming international competition by winning the 2011 Iron Bar Competition, which was held August 22 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
Thirty-nine local mixologiests competed in the event, which required them to prepare and present original sparkling cocktails that incorporated Giffard’s Violette Liqueur and Louis de Grenelle Crémant.
Sweetapple won the competition with his cocktail, Eau de Vie. Taylor was runner-up, with an entry called Elizabeth Taylor.
Jenny Wagler
Twitter: JennyWagler_BIV