The super-premium and highly acclaimed award-winning brand, Woodford Reserve, continues to pioneer the bourbon movement in South Africa with the annual Woodford Bourbon Trail campaign. After reviewing seventeen of Johannesburg and Cape Town’s finest bars in search for the best Old-Fashioned cocktail, the results are in, with Cause & Effect coming out on top in Cape Town and Marble Restaurant taking the lead in Johannesburg.
The aim of the Woodford Bourbon Trail was to establish a first-class Woodford Old Fashioned cocktail with a twist and this was achieved with the highest of standards. The respective regional judging panels consisted of mixologist Gareth Wainwright, InstaEats, Shayne Dowling and social media influencer Jared In CPT, who tasted 17 of the best cocktails, which were judged according to an international base Score Weighting System.
Each Old Fashioned cocktail was crafted using Woodford Reserve bourbon, brown sugar, bitters and orange zest with a twist suited to the style of each bartender. This year’s participating bars brought the fire as not only has Woodford Reserve crowned regional winners but Cape Town and Johannesburg will go head-to-head in a national Bourbon Brawl finale taking place on 4 December 2018.
Johannesburg’s participating bars went all out to prove that some of the best Old Fashioned’s are made in the city of gold. “The creative and sometimes abstract use of Woodford Reserve presented by the contestants both impressed and beguiled us with unexpected flavours and beautiful serves. Ultimately, Aaron Datnow from Mable set the bar very high on the first day with his Mapricot Old Fashioned, witty charm and playful yet masterful technique” says Brand Mixologist Ntando Ngema.
When asked about Cape Town’s showcase of talent, Brand Mixologist Marson Strydom commented, “This year, Cape Town’s participating bars put their best foot forward as we were treated to a variety of Woodford Old Fashioned’s that would make your palate dance for joy. Seeing those creative minds at work is simply just inspiring. At the end of the day, it was the exceptional leather aged twist along with Justin Shaw’s (bartender) witty bar banter and flawless technique that led Cause & Effect to victory with their Cape Mountain Old Fashioned.”
“Should you find yourself in Cape Town on Tuesday, 4 December at 18:30, make your way to Cause & Effect for the ultimate bourbon showdown as they take on Marble Restaurant for the title of SA’s Best Woodford Old Fashioned”, says Chantal Canning, Woodford Reserve’s SA Brand Manager.
For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit: www.woodfordreserve.com or follow their #woodfordbourbontrail journey on Instagram | @woodfordreserve | @thereallygreatbrandcompany | @instaeatscapetown | @instaeatsjozi | @instaeatssouthafrica