By Rebecca Harris
Tasmania is finally getting a place on the cocktail competition circuit with Appleton Estate rum set to hold state heats there at the end of the month (Sep).
Usually overlooked in favour of the eastern seaboard states of NSW, Victoria and Queensland, Brown-Forman brand ambassador Linus Schaxmann said that it was ‘high-time’ that Tasmania got a chance to compete in the Appleton Tiki Cocktail Competition.
This year, only Victoria and Tasmania will hold state finals.
“We’re really excited to build on what we did last year with Appleton rum and tiki and are really looking forward to see what Appleton tiki cocktails not only Victorian bartenders come up with but also the Tasmanian bartenders, in what will be only the third cocktail competition held in Tasmania,” he said.
Appleton Estate kicked off promotions for the competition on Monday (Sep 7) at Lloyds Hotel in Launceston and Tuesday (Sep 8) at The Bay Hotel in Hobart.
The launch included tastings of the Appleton Estate rum family (V/X, Reserve, Extra and 21 year old), a tiki educational and a preview of the brand new Appleton Estate tiki mug, the ‘Rum God’.
The cocktail heats will be held at Toledo Lounge Bar in Hobart on September 29 and at Lonnie’s in Launceston on September 30. The final will be held at The Bay Hotel on October 12.
Finalists will compete for Appleton rum collections and the opportunity to compete in the Victorian Appleton Tiki Cocktail Competition final in October.
The last bartender cocktail competition held in Tasmania was allegedly hosted by Bacardi in 2006.