Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt has announced the commencement of the 105 Cask Strength Cocktail Competition 2022.
In this, the third edition of the competition, heats will be held in Belfast, Glasgow and London on the 9th, 16th and 23rd of May. Bartenders may select which venue to attend and must submit their ideas in person for a signature serve using the iconic Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Whisky.
The Belfast heat will be hosted in Rita’s on May 9th between 1pm and 4pm.
Equipped with some sample Glenfarclas 105 with which to experiment and create, competitors will be judged by an expert panel on a set of criteria focusing on their knowledge and presentation skills, cocktail-making technique, ingredients used and drink appearance. Nine Finalists from across the country will be invited to Glasgow for the final on 13th June, where the winner will be presented with their prize. The final will be judged by last year’s winner, Daniel Jones, Kirstin MacDonald (Glenfarclas Brand Manager), and representatives from the whisky press.
The winning prize includes a two-day experience at the Distillery and therefore, this marks a fantastic opportunity for any Single Malt enthusiast working in the trade, not only to prove themselves as a mixologist but to gain unrivalled insight into the Single Malt industry. The winner will also receive a limited-edition bottle of Glenfarclas, and a series of activities only possible at the historic site.
105 Cask Strength dates back to 1968, when George S. Grant, 4th generation member of the owning family, bottled a single cask straight from the warehouse and sent the bottles to family and friends as Christmas gifts. By chance the strength of the cask was ‘105’ British Proof, and along with the name of the distillery, this was all the information he detailed on the hand-written label. By the end of January, the recipients of the gifts requested further bottles, hence Glenfarclas ‘105’, the first commercially available cask strength whisky of the modern age, was born. The name refers to the strength in the British Proof system, equivalent to 60% alcohol by volume.
105 Cask Strength is a fantastic base for a complex and exciting cocktail; deep gold in colour with a complex, oaky nose with hints of apples and pears, and a tempting dark toffee sweetness. On the palate it has a dry and assertive flavour which develops quickly to reveal a rich spiciness, combined with a hint of oak and sherried fruit. It is amazingly smooth for the strength; wonderfully warming with a lingering smokiness, yet very rounded.
The winner will mark the third victor of the Glenfarclas 105 Cocktail Competition, joining Daniel Jones from Bristol and Kevin Carr from Glasgow.
For more information on how to enter, please contact: [email protected].
