Matteo Vanzi of Italy is the winner of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® World’s Most Imaginative Bartender competition. Matteo Vanzi took home the top honors at the global final in Tuscany, Italy, which saw him compete against professional bartenders from around the world for the accolade and a prestigious prize. The world’s fastest-growing gin brand by volume and value challenged the competitors to create a cocktail inspired by Tuscany, the home of the juniper berries, which lies at the heart of Bombay Sapphire gin.
The bartenders took part in a four-day event, in and around the historical city of Florence where they experienced the region. The winner, Matteo Vanzi of Italy was chosen from 11 finalists from around the world.
The Pastorini (Perfect Lady) – Matteo Vanzi’s Winning Co
Overall recipe ingredients
- 50ml Bombay Sapphire gin
- 10ml St Germain infused jasmine green tea and pink grapefruit peel
- 15ml Martini Bianco
- 20ml White Balsamic Vinegar with verbena and camomile
- Homemade shrub
- 1tsp juniper berry meringue
Overall method
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker
- Shake, fine strain and serve in metal picnic mugs
Homemade Shrub
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 1 cup white balsamic vineger
Method for homemade shrub
- Heat vineger and allow sugar to disolve and then filter
Infusion
- 375ml St Germain
- 3 tbs Jasmine green tea
- Peel of one pink grapefruit
To make the infusion
- In a Vienna coffee machine lightly infuse the green tea and pink graprefruit peel with the St Germain
Juniper Berry meringue
- 125g egg white
- 125g caster sugar
- 5 whole fine gounded juniper berries
Method for meringue
- Whisk to mergine
The Finalists:
- Austria: Markus Altrichter , Hammond Bar , Viena
- Canada: Franz Swinton , Cube Tasting Lounge, Calgary
- Denmark: Niklas Frank , The Union, Copenhague
- Germany: Mathias Noori , Roomers Bar, Frankfurt
- Italy: Matteo Vanzi, Stravinskji Bar hotel de Russie, Roma
- Japan: Mai Seike , Cellar Bar, Rihga Royal Hotel, Tokio
- South Africa: Assaf Yechiel, Orphanage cocktail bar, Ciudad del Cabo
- Spain: Joao Eusebio , Magatzem Escola Borne, Barcelona
- Switzerland: Nico Colic, Hotel Rivington & Sons, Zurich
- UK: Joe Wild , Berry & Rye, Liverpool
- USA: Rustyn Vaughan-Lee , The Sporting League, Las Vegas