No.3 Gin Pursuit of Perfection Competition 2022

The second year under the competition's 'Pursuit of Perfection' name, for 2022, entrants from the bar and drinks industry (in UK, Italy and Germany) were invited to submit cocktail recipes using No.3's award-winning London Dry gin, inspired by its three main flavour profiles: Juniper, Citrus or Spice.

Entrants were tasked with using one of the three flavour profiles as inspiration to create a drink that's innovative, exciting and in tune with No.3's character and the story behind its creation.

A judging panel of international experts presided over the initial shortlisting process, which was followed by regional heats. The winners of the regional heats, who are going through to the global final on 13th / 14th September are as follows.

UK - Northern heat winner

Adam Montanaro-Taylor
Bar: Mecanica
Cocktail name: Three-Masted Ship
Recipe:
60ml No.3 Gin,
30ml Juniper leaf smoked Syrian cordial
Garnish:
3 drops red juniper oil

UK - Scottish heat winner

Ryan Mackie
Bar: Orchid
Cocktail name: Paradisi
Recipe:
35ml No.3 Gin
7.5ml Fino sherry
7.5ml Italicus
25ml lemon juice
25ml grapefruit & coriander seed cordial
20ml cold brew chamomile tea
Garnish:
Pink grapefruit slice

UK - London heat winner

Lorenzo Piscitello
Bar: Artesian
Cocktail name: No.3 Tonic XIII
Recipe:
50ml No.3 Gin
Aromatic tonic wine (homemade)
Garnish:
Grapefruit coin

UK - Bristol heat winner

Ashley Haines
Bar: Angel Bar (Reading)
Cocktail name: Juniper-Thesauri
Recipe:
60ml No.3 Gin
30ml pink grapefruit juice
15ml cassis
10ml blackcurrant yoghurt (Milk punch)
Garnish:
Red veined sorrel lea

Germany- Berlin heat winner

Raki Sillah
Bar: Kink Bar
Cocktail name: King's Punch
Recipe:
60ml No.3 Gin
40ml Ginger cordial (homemade)
40ml Earl grey tea
30ml Soy milk (Milk punch)
Garnish:
Bergamot spritz

Germany- Southern heat winner

Claudius Engel
Bar: Gorilla Bar
Cocktail name: Magroni
Recipe:
60ml No.3 Gin
10ml Magroni syrup (No.3 gin, Carpano Antica Formula, Campari, sugar, water, lemon, orange)
Garnish:
Candied orange zest

Germany- Northern heat winner

Robin Lühert
Bar: Bar & Cafe Esprit
Cocktail name: Rutaceae
Recipe:
30ml No.3 Gin
10ml Lemon spirit
20ml Companion Sicilian orange aperitif
20ml salted aperitif
Garnish:
Thyme sprig

Italy - Northern heat winner

Davide Wang
Bar: Moebius
Cocktail name:
Recipe:
45ml No.3 Gin
20ml Sake
60ml coriander & red pepper cordial
Garnish:
Cardamon air, nasturtium leaf

Italy - Southern heat winner

Gioacchino Sorrentino
Bar: Sorrentino
Cocktail name: Feel the beet
Recipe:
40ml No.3 Gin,
10ml Green Chartreuse,
30ml Beetroot syrup
10ml citric solution
1 drop saline solution
Garnish:
Pickled beetroot

Italy - Central heat winner

Daniele de Angelis
Bar: Argot Secret Bar
Cocktail name: Jester Martini
Recipe:
60ml No.3 Gin
30ml Jesters cordial (homemade)
Garnish:
Coconut oil (3 drops)

The final

The final stage of this competition will see the Pursuit of Perfection's finalists creating their drinks for a line-up of judges (including yours truly) at the No.3 distillery over two days of intense competition in September 2022.

The prize

The regional winning bartenders from each country will win an all-expenses-paid trip to the No.3 Distillery in Schiedam to compete in the national final, while the winner from each country will win a bespoke, handmade leather bar kit holder, with No.3 bar equipment. The overall winner will be awarded £5,000 to create their very own bar takeover in a location of their choice, with hands-on input from the No.3 team.

Timeline

1st March - 18th April – entries may be submitted at No3Competition.co.uk
13th - 22nd April – internal judging of entries
26th April – announcement of regional heat competitors
23rd May - 29th July – regional heats held
13th September – National Final in Schiedam
14th September – Global Final in Schiedam