Bartenders from Pan Pacific London’s Ginger Lily and The Beaumont Mayfair’s Le Magritte created the two winning serves.
The Six Brothers Mahura Masters took place at Rosewood London’s Scarfes Bar on Monday 3rd March, bringing together 17 outstanding bartenders from some of London’s most esteemed venues, including luxury hotel bars, fine dining destinations, and acclaimed independent bars.
Competition entrants had the unique opportunity to be among the first to craft their perfect serve using a yet-unreleased spirit. Six Brothers Mahura, the world’s first commercially distilled Mahura, revives an ancient Indian spirit on the brink of its resurgence.
Launching in the UK in 2025, Six Brothers Mahura is a category-first premium spirit distilled from the culturally significant Mahura flower (Madhuca Longifolia, also known as Mahua, Mahuva, Mahuda or Mhowra) native to the forests of western and central India. Once banned under British colonial rule for a century, Six Brothers of South Seas Distilleries – one of India’s oldest malt distilleries – is reviving a family legacy as the original producers of this heritage spirit.
Crafted using India’s oldest copper pot stills, Six Brothers Mahura blends ancient tradition with modern artistry. The spirit offers complex flavours of dried fruit, pepper, ginger, and a smooth, spicy finish, perfect for bold, sophisticated cocktails.
Judging the competition, six leading voices of the drinks industry: Alice Lascelles, Douglas Blyde, Millie Milliken, Pritesh Mody, Francesco Braun and Max Venning – considered the taste, presentation, storytelling, technique and originality of each entry, ultimately selecting the two champions.
The judges came together to determine two final winners: Wichayarat ‘Ping’ Chantawichayasuit, Bartender at Ginger Lily, Pan Pacific London and Giovanni Dellaglio, Head Bartender at Le Magritte, The Beaumont Mayfair. These joint-winning Bartenders created the top-rated cocktail entries out of 17 competition entrants.
Ping impressed the judges with Eastern Memory, a striking highball that masterfully highlights Mahura’s unique character. Inspired by Asian drinking traditions and the flavours of Asian cuisine, the cocktail balances the spirit’s naturally sweet and savoury notes with the tropical richness of mango and the aromatic depth of basil. A house-made Sichuan pepper and red chili cordial introduces a delicate heat, while carbonated clarified mango and basil water enhances its refreshing, effervescent quality. Four drops of Sichuan pepper-infused Peychaud’s bitters add layers of dry spice and anise, floating at the top of the drink to create a striking contrast in both flavour and appearance. Judges were captivated by its refined execution, with Millie Milliken praising its “complex and beautifully aromatic nose” and “nicely balanced texture,” Pritesh Mody commending its “incredible technique and flavour delivery,” and Francesco Braun calling it “well balanced.” Eastern Memory is a testament to skillful craftsmanship, allowing Mahura’s depth and complexity to shine in a contemporary serve.
Giovanni’s winning entry was Shurat, a striking green serve in a tall coupe glass with a diamond-shaped clear ice rock that captivated judges with its expertly balanced flavours and elegant presentation. Kokum-infused Mahura provides a rich, aromatic base, complemented by the luscious sweetness of peach liqueur and the herbal depth of tulsi and basil syrup. Clarified lemon juice adds a bright, tangy lift, while cardamom bitters bring a warming spice that lingers on the palate. A final touch of ginger ale introduces a gentle effervescence, rounding out the drink with a refreshing finish. Praised for its “lovely interplay of flavours” by Pritesh Mody, deemed “fruity, fresh and very moreish” by Alice Lascelles, and predicted to be a hit in London by Douglas Blyde, this expertly crafted cocktail is a masterclass in balance, complexity, and sophistication.
Winners, Ping and Giovanni will celebrate their success with a once in a lifetime trip to India, where they will visit South Seas Distilleries and witness the Mahura tree during its annual blooming season.
Max Venning praised “the wide array of cocktail styles that embraced Mahura’s exceptional versatility”, as did Alice Lascelles whoreflected on the competition, saying “the creativity on show was fantastic, with contestants using Six Brothers Mahura and an array of Asian-inspired ingredients to create cocktails ranging from spicy highballs and bittersweet aperitivos to sophisticated Martinis”.
Entrants included:
- 8 at The Londoner – Pierpaolo Schirru, Head Mixologist and Beverage Development
- Amazónico – Giannis Apostolopoulos, Head of Bars
- American Bar at The Savoy – Tom Bowling, Waiter
- Chiave – Bilal Tekec, Mixologist & Bar Manager
- Ginger Lily at Pan Pacific London – Ping, Bartender
- Ham Yard Hotel – Daniel French, Head Bartender
- Kokum – Dip Roy, Head Mixologist
- Le Magritte at The Beaumont – Giovanni Dellaglio, Head Bartender
- LUUM – Timotei Bodolan, Bartender
- SAMBA ROOM – Alexandra Gomori-Carrillo, Assistant Bar Manager
- Scarfes Bar at Rosewood – Lorenzo Piscitello, Bartender
- SOMA – Marina Juszcyzyk, Head Bartender
- Spitalfields Bar – Alex Rajan-Iyer, Bartender
- Suné – Majid Abdala, Bartender
- The Bar and Terrace at The Cadogan – Luca Parimbelli, Head Bartender
- The George JKS – Josh Carver, Assistant Bar Manager
- Vesper Bar at The Dorchester – Denise Elisei, Head Bartender
