This is my entry into the CPBA Brown Forman Spirit Quest Competition a few months ago. A black box event, we were giving a myriad of ingredients to play with and this is the cocktail that got me the win. I haven't competed for some time, between opening my own venue, a book and family, it's something that I never could fit into my schedule. But this was my coming out after my forced sabbatical and I wanted to put on a show.

I believe, against some popular believes; that a cocktail in a competition should be replicated in the competitors bar on a busy night many times over. Why? These companies sometimes put up huge sponsorship money to put these events on, having a cocktail that can be put on a menu after the win helps recoup some of that cost along with exposure for the brand etc.

This is just one old bartenders opinion, coming from Australia where marketablility is a mark on the judges pad is very important. Brands are now savvy to how they can make the competition and brand recognition continue months after the win.

The Morris Minor Float is a tongue in name for Chris Morris the distiller of Collingwood along with the foam being a "minor float". Also there is a little car reference in there.

The foam is ridiculously easy to create, shelve stable and can be batched up to 2 days prior to use as long as you "shear" with a hand blender before use to remix.

Morris Minor Float

1 1/2 oz Collingwood

1/2 oz Suze

3/4 oz Pear Maple Shrub

1/2 oz simple syrup

1/2 oz lemon juice

Cherry Cola Foam

Glass - vintage cocktail glass

Method - Shake & double strain, top with foam

Garnish - none

Cherry Cola Foam

180mL water

70mL Cherry Cola Syrup

15mL Orange Flower water

10g powdered egg

0.5g xanthum gum

• Vitamix on hi for 30 secs
• Charge in iSi with N2O