Xander Driver Wins The Gabriel Boudier Wizard 2023 Competition With His Turmeric Liqueur
Emporia Brands is thrilled to announce that Xander Driver, a talented UK bartender from 33 Cank Street in Leicester has been crowned the winner of the prestigious Gabriel Boudier Wizard Award 2023. This highly anticipated competition, held in partnership with Gabriel Boudier, brought together the finest bartenders in the UK to create an original liqueur recipe. With his exceptional creation, a turmeric liqueur, Xander claimed the coveted title.
The Gabriel Boudier Wizard Award competition was first introduced by Emporia Brands and Gabriel Boudier in 2015 and has since become a hallmark event for the UK's bartending community. Held every two years, the competition serves as a platform for bartenders to showcase their innovation and creativity in crafting unique and on-trend liqueur recipes.
The Grand Finale for the 2023 edition took place at the 'Speakeasy Boudier', a private bar nestled within the historic House of Gabriel Boudier. Among the other finalists who showcased their creations was Carrie Smith from Hoot the Redeemer in Edinburgh, Klara Kopcikova from The Pineapple Club in Birmingham, and Selina Otremba from Milk Bar in Reading.
To claim the top spot in this high-profile competition, participants had to prove their skills through a series of creations, closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of hospitality and distilling experts. Xander Driver's turmeric liqueur captivated the judges with its perfectly balanced flavour and innovative use of the liqueur his cocktails.
Xander’s Turmeric liqueur will now be developed by Gabriel Boudier and join the illustrious line-up of previous Wizard winners, Matthew Cusworth’s Nori Liqueur, Maria Vieira’s Dijon Mustard Liqueur and Samuel Boulton’s Kaffir Lime Liqueur.
During the competition, Xander showcased his winning liqueur through two of his signature serves. 'The Sunshine Highball' featured a refreshing combination of 35ml Turmeric Liqueur and 125ml Ginger Ale, garnished with a Ginger/Turmeric Slice. Meanwhile, 'East is East' combined 40ml Turmeric Liqueur, 20ml Gabriel Boudier Saffron Gin, 20ml Passionfruit puree, 50ml natural yogurt, and 25ml Aqua Faba.
Jack Rackham, Managing Director at Emporia commented: “It was a privilege to see the innovation, passion and bartending ability of the finalists. All four displayed a very high skill level in developing a balanced liqueur that showcased their unique liqueurs ingredients. It was very close, but ultimately Xander’s liqueur and signature serves gave him the edge to take the title and I’m thoroughly looking forward to launching his liqueur into the UK market later this year”.
Currently under development, Xander’s liqueur is expected to be launched later this year in collaboration with Emporia Brands.
For more information on stocking Gabriel Boudier products in the UK or how to be involved in the next Wizard Competition please email info@emporiabrands.com
THE WINNING LIQUEUR WILL BE LAUNCHED LATER THIS YEAR
