Gabriel Boudier Wizard Award Winner of 2019 & 2020
The final of the 2020 Gabriel Boudier Wizard competition has been won by Matthew Cusworth, of Hoot the Redeemer in Edinburgh! The third national Gabriel Boudier Wizard final was held at the home of Gabriel Boudier in Dijon, France in January. The top four finalists were each selected from the regional heats held throughout the UK in 2019. The competition was setup in 2015 by spirits importers, Emporia Brands. The Gabriel Boudier Wizard competition challenges bartenders to come up with an original liqueur or crème that is not already commercially available. The winning recipe will be put into production by Gabriel Boudier and released internationally later in the year. Established in 1874, Gabriel Boudier is the only independent producer of liqueurs in Dijon still in family ownership. Their award-winning range is based on fresh ingredients, without the use of artificial flavours, and this philosophy was part of the brief to contestants. Finalists were judged not only on their liqueur but also on their marketing plan to launch, along with a demonstration of how the liqueur could be used both in a simple serve and in a signature serve. The four finalists were;
Pandan Leaf Liqueur (Wizard of the South). Created by Lorenzo Gavelli from The Chambers at The Chamberlain Hotel in London, using fresh Pandan leaves, his liqueur recipe gained him first place as Wizard of the South at the regional finals at The Cocktail Trading Co.. His signature serve ‘Pandan Grasshopper’ used Pandan Liqueur, Gabriel Boudier crème de menthe and double cream garnished with grated dark chocolate on the top.
Beetroot Liqueur (Wizard of the North).
Created by Luke Bensley, from Birmingham based restaurant and bar Legna. Using beetroot, Sarsaparilla, star anise and apple juice, his liqueur earned him first place in the Gabriel Boudier Wizard of the North regional finals; displaying the versatility of his liqueur in his signature serve ‘Red Velvet’ which combined coffee, crème de cacao, beetroot liqueur, sugar syrup and vodka.
Matthew Cusworth named Gabriel Boudier wizard of 2019 & 2020
Nori Seaweed Liqueur (Wizard of Scotland).
Created by Matthew Cusworth from Hoot the Redeemer in Edinburgh, his Nori Seaweed Liqueur uses a combination of nori, pulse, lime peel and grapefruit peel which secured him first place in the Wizard of Scotland regional final. Matthew’s signature serve ‘The Kanagawa Cocktail’ uses Oloroso Sherry, lime, Rinquinquin, Nori Liqueur and a dash of Mount Fuji bitters.
Chipotle & Pineapple (Wild Card).
The judges were also impressed with Dominic Saunders from the Royal Academy of Music and his Chipotle & Pineapple Liqueur, offering him a ‘Wild Card’ entry for his efforts. His Chipotle & Pineapple Liqueur used a light rum, dried Chipotle and fresh Pineapple and was displayed in his signature serve ‘Papa Don Preach’ which used Don Papa Rum, Chipotle & Pineapple Liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, sugar syrup and a dash of chocolate bitters.
Matthew took home £1,000 on the night and will now work with Gabriel Boudier over the next six months to finalize the recipe of Nori Seaweed Liqueur that will be launched in the UK later in 2020. The next Gabriel Boudier Wizard competition will run in 2021, to find an original liqueur or crème to launch in 2022.
Matthew Cusworth, 2020 Gabriel Boudier Wizard Winner commented, “It was an incredible and humbling experience being able to present my Wizard entry to the Gabriel Boudier family at their home in Dijon. It was surreal to tour their incredible facilities and to think my liqueur idea will become a reality here – being produced side by side with some amazing products!”
For more information on GB Wizard Awards please email info@emporiabrands.com.
