Europe’s top bartenders invited to enter the prestigious Nc’nean Creations cocktail competition
Pioneering Organic Single Malt Scotch distillery, Nc’nean, has announced entries are open for their 2025 bartender cocktail competition. The annual competition, which is run by Nc’nean’s blender, Matt Hastings, has become one of the most prestigious cocktail competitions on the circuit. The contest has gained its leading reputation thanks to the creative and challenging briefs, one-to-one mentoring, expert feedback, and incredible trip to visit Nc’nean’s remote and beautiful distillery, in addition to the highly sought after prize of selecting a single cask. The chosen cask is released under the winner’s name who is awarded a ten percent stake in the cask’s bottle sales.
Nc’nean’s chosen theme for this year’s competition is “to open”. This theme challenges bartenders to create the perfect Aperitif using either Nc’nean’s Organic single malt Scotch whisky or Botanical Spirit. The brief reflects Nc’nean’s continued mission to change the way people think about whisky from Scotland. One of the ways Nc’nean approaches this is by “moving whisky up the menu” to remind consumers that whisky is not just a drink for the end of the evening. By creating more aperitif serves for whisky, not only does Nc’nean highlight the various ways it can be enjoyed but also gives guests even more ways to do so.
As with every Nc’nean Creations competition, contestants have been encouraged to consider sustainability and innovation in their submission, two themes that have become synonymous with Nc’nean’s brand identity. Digital entries are now open with the deadline for submissions on the 30th of April. Those successful in the first round will then be invited to the heats which will take place in Scotland, London and Paris over June and July 2025 with the final taking place in Glasgow and Nc’nean in September.
Previous winners include Elena Wright from Manchester and Matt Morrison who is head bartender at the Fife Arms. Last year Norbert Drozdowski who lives in Padstow and works at Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant took the winning spot. Norbert’s drink which was created in line with the 2024 theme of minimal waste was called Triple Bananas and included a banana jelly garnish. His single cask bottling which was released in January 2025 is sold out online however it is currently available on the menu at The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow while stocks last.
Elena Wright, winner of Nc’nean Creations 2022 says; “Entering Nc’nean creations was one of the best decisions I made in 2022. Being fairly new to the industry when I entered, it allowed me to meet people from all over the UK and form friendships that still continue to this day – both with competitors and the wonderful Nc’nean team. It is the most supportive, encouraging and friendly competition to enter, and really helped me to gain confidence, propel my career and get my name out there.”
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