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Australian Distilling Co. last night crowned Adelaide’s best bartender in the final round of the Originals Cocktail Competition, with Dan Hayward Jarmyn from Bank Street Social taking out the top spot with his Feijoan Winter cocktail amongst a finalist group of sixteen bartenders.

The competition encouraged innovation and creativity from some of Adelaide’s most talented bartenders, with entrants hailing from bars including Hains & Co, Memphis Slims and Long Story Short, and tasked with creating their own original drink based on criteria of creativity, skill and flavour. Between four rounds, the judging panel of industry heavyweights including Lee Potter Cavanagh, Founder of Bondi’s Rosenbaum & Fuller, whittled sixteen finalists down to just two bartenders who competed head-to-head.

The competition, in its inaugural year, also provided opportunity to celebrate the city’s vibrant hospitality culture.

“Few industries have been as hard hit by the global pandemic as hospitality. It has endured lockdowns, staff shortages and years of uncertainty but it continues to fight back with an entrepreneurial spirit,” Australian Distilling Co. Founder Michael Hickinbotham said.

“Dan created a drink that surprised and excited the judging panel, and just like our craft spirit business where we reflect on the unique nature of Australia’s cities and regions, our winner showed true originality in creating the Feijoan Winter cocktail” Hickinbotham said.

Fusing Australian Distilling Co.’s Shiraz Gin with the unique flavours of the feijoa fruit, Jarmyn’s drink was created as an ode to Winter and a salute to memories of his childhood.

“The cocktail is inspired by my memories of the feijoa tree in the backyard. The Shiraz Gin I incorporated is just incredible, I was very surprised by the sharp and lovely flavour that shone through as the hero of the cocktail,” he said.

“The hospitality industry has suffered in the last two years, and we need industry partners like Australian Distilling Co. to keep helping bring us all together. The Originals Cocktail Competition is an event that is putting Adelaide on the map in our industry,” Jarmyn said.

Judge Lee Potter Cavanagh commended finalists on their originality and innovation.

“The Originals Cocktail Competition showcased some of the most cutting-edge cocktail talent in the country right now. It is refreshing to see so many newcomers rise to the top,” he said.

Jarmyn took home a prize pool of $5,000 plus 10 litres of Australian Distilling Co. Adelaide Gin for Bank Street Social. Runners up Aleisha Zoumaras of Henley House and Pankaj of Merrymaker took home $1,000 and $500 respectively for second and third place.

Australian Distilling Co. produces a range of 17 products, most of which are inspired by Australian cities and locales. The Originals Cocktail Competition in Adelaide is a pilot with plans to roll the concept out nationally.

Whilst our roots are traditional, our approach is not. Every spirit Australian Distilling Co. produces is a homage to the beautiful cities and regions of Australia. By distilling in locations throughout Australia using local ingredients we ensure that each expression we create is an authentic articulation of something that is both beautifully crafted and uniquely Australian.