The 2012 Madeira Cocktail Competition
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Article added on March 29, 2012
  
When I stayed at Quinta Jardins do Lago, the Food & Beverage Manager Alberto Silva, who is also the President of the Madeiran Barmen Association (Associação Barmen da Madeira, founded in 1970) told me about the 2012 Madeira Cocktail Competition that would take place on March 23. Four of his barkeepers would participate in the regional competition with 38 participants. The best 10 barmaids and barmen would qualify for the 2012 Portuguese Competition on May 13, which would this year take place in Funchal. The winner of the Portuguese national competition would then participate in the World Competition in China from October 7-12, 2012.

The 2012 Madeira Cocktail Competition was about the best after dinner cocktail. A mandatory ingredient was a minimum of 1.5 cl of Beefeater London Dry Gin with 40% alcohol. That's 10% of a 15 cl cocktail glass.

Staying at Quinta Jardins do Lago, I had the chance beforehand to taste three of the four cocktails of the hotel barmen who would participate in the competition, namely the ones by Pedro Azevedo, André Freitas and Filipe Gouveia. There were some last minute changes before the event regarding both the ingredients and the decoration.

On March 23 in Funchal, at the 2012 Madeira Cocktail Competition, I had the chance to taste some of the cocktails. I saw the participants number 6 to 22 (Cristina Pimentta) before I went for dinner at the excellent gourmet restaurant of chef Thomas Faudry at The Vine, Madeira's ultimate design hotel.



During the competition, I had the chance to taste the missing cocktail from the fourth barman of Quinta Jardins do Lago, Luis Soares. He finished third on March 23. I was especially eager to watch Cristina Pimenta of the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo da Madeira, who ended up in first place.

Cristina Pimenta is not only the winner of the 2012 Maderian after dinner cocktail competition, she is also the reigning Portuguese cocktail champion. Furthermore, she finished second in the 2011 World Competition with her Atlantic Flower Long Drink. The Associação Barmen da Madeira not only counts the current vice-world champion, but also four former world champions among its ranks: António Jesus with Aleluia in 1979, Anacleto Abreu with Magic Star in 1987, José Manuel Jardim with Raquel in 1990 and Ricardo Severim with Blue Temptation in 1998! Madeira truly is a cocktail island.

Cristina Pimenta's after dinner cocktail The Twins presented on March 23 in Funchal consisted of Beefeater Gin, Monin Elderflower Syrup (Sirop Fleur de Sureau), Galliano Vanilla Liqueur from Italy, Bols Natural Yoghurt Liqueur, Monin Strawberry Syrup and fresh passion fruit juice. During the competition, I noted the elegant, understated decoration of her drink, which had the strongest, most intense smell of all cocktails as well as the excellent taste.

Eusébio Silva from Hotel Regency Palace finished second with his cocktail, which I had no chance to taste. Luis Soares from Quinta Jardins do Lago presented a mix of Beefeater Gin, Avocado Liqueur, Bols Melon Liqueur and Safari, a liqueur mix of exotic fruits, including passion fruit.

Pedro Azevedo of Quinta Jardins do Lago, who finished fourth, had presented one of my favorites, an exotic and sweet mix of Beefeater Gin, Banana Liqueur, Bols Yoghurt Liqueur and passion fruit juice.

Andre Freitas, also of Quinta Jardins do Lago, finished fifth. Together with five other candidates from Madeira, he will take part in the Portuguese national competition of May 13. Andre Freitas had presented a very “red” cocktail with Beefeater Gin, Monin Pinacolada, Monin Strawberry, Cream and passion fruit juice.

Filipe Gouveia of Quinta Jardins do Lago finished 15th. His drink was elegantly decorated with a Pegasus (flying horse). It consisted of Beefeater Gin, Bols Strawberry Liqueur, Bols Yoghurt Liqueur, Bols Avocado Liqueur and natural passion fruit juice. At the last minute, he had changed the composition of his drink and opted for Bols Yoghurt Liqueur instead of Bols Banana Liqueur. I had preferred the banana version tasted at the hotel and told him so, joking that luckily, I was not part of the jury. Unfortunately for him, my instincts proved me right. Luckily for you, you can ask him at the hotel bar to mix you the banana version.

Wherever you stay on Madeira, don't forget to taste one of the island's cocktails!

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Cristina Pimenta's winning after dinner cocktail The Twins presented in Funchal on March 23, 2012. Photo © Associação Barmen da Madeira / Madeiran Barmen Association. Cocktail mixing books from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.fr and Amazon.de.

Cristina Pimenta of the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo da Madeira with her winning cocktail. Photos © Associação Barmen da Madeira / Madeiran Barmen Association. Cocktail mixing books from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.fr and Amazon.de.


Eusébio Silva, Hotel Regency Palace, who finished second in the 2012 Madeira after dinner cocktail competition. Photos © Associação Barmen da Madeira / Madeiran Barmen Association. Cocktail mixing books from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.fr and Amazon.de.


Barman Luis Soares from Quinta Jardins do Lago with the cocktail that finished third. Photos © Associação Barmen da Madeira / Madeiran Barmen Association. Cocktail mixing books from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.fr and Amazon.de.