The distinctive Sun Maria has been crowned the best in the UK after beating stiff competition from over 50 other cocktails in Grosvenor Casinos’ Bartender of the Year competition. Birmingham’s Sunil Jhamnani wowed judges, including First Dates’ master bartender Merlin Griffiths, with his innovative new creation.
Originally from India before moving to the UK, Sunil missed the spicy food of home and noticed that there was a love for sweetness in the UK. After a day out at the cinema eating nachos overloaded with jalapeños, Sunil was inspired to marry the flavours of sweet and spice together into his cocktail – even adding jalapeños to his final drink to give it a real kick! The bold drink will make its debut on Grosvenor Casinos’ drinks menus across the country later this year.
The bartender from Grosvenor Casino Birmingham Hill Street, astounded the judges, who were impressed that all the details were so well thought through, from the glassware to bravery of the combination and kick of the garnish. Made up of mango purée, agave syrup, Aperol, Cointreau to balance the flavours, plus el Jimador tequila and finished with a jalapeño garnish, Sun Maria was a real crowd pleaser at the competition and has now been crowned the best cocktail in the UK.
Sunil said about his cocktail: “When coming up with this cocktail I wanted it to be sweet yet spicy and have a flavour profile that everyone could enjoy. Tequila is the drink of the moment, so I wanted to include el Jimador as the main ingredient as it is fresh and citrusy yet warm and spicy with hints of agave.
“I am so proud to have won Bartender of the Year and to see my cocktail crowned best in the UK. When it comes to mixology, I love thinking about each aspect, from selecting the right glass to the combination of the flavour from each spirit to the mixer and even down to the scent of the garnish!”
David Beaumont, Brand Beverage Development Manager at Grosvenor Casinos, said: “Sunil really impressed the judging panel with his Sun Maria creation. It was the perfect mix of sweet and spice with ingredients like the orange triple-sec and mango complementing the kick from the jalapeños.
“At Grosvenor Casinos, we place a lot of emphasis on supporting our employees’ passions and this includes our Bartender of the Year competition. We’re looking forward to having the Sun Maria on the menu so everyone can try it!”
Merlin Griffiths, one of the guest judges, commented on the competition: “The competition has been so enjoyable in so many ways – you can see the talent coming through in each cocktail and it’s been exciting to witness. It has been a joy to taste each cocktail!”
Sun Maria will be added to the Grosvenor Casinos’ drinks menu later this year, with a portion of all sales to be donated to the Carer’s Trust.
To find out more information about careers at Grosvenor Casinos, visit its recruitment website https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/TheRankGroup/grosvenor-casino and please gamble responsibly: www.begambleaware.org
