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SPECIAL REPORT “The Clampetts” (aka Team USA): Nate Wales, Jennifer Contraveos and Michael Callahan. Day 4: Final Challenge . . . Almost Challenge: Ready, Steady, Shake Besides prepping for the final competi- tion of the week, teams had one more challenge to complete. Contestants were each given a mystery box of eight ingredients and seven minutes to create a cocktail. Winning Team: Team Australia Winning Cocktail: Hoarie Bagins 30 ml. 42Below Manuka Honey 15 ml. 42Below Pure Pear, muddled ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Day 3: South by Down Under Challenge: Punch Challenge In the most colorful of the week’s challenges, teams not only mixed up creative punches but also took it to the next level with unique costumes. The prize for the night went to Team USA— dressed in overalls and plaid shirts and chewing straw—for their drink inspired by The Beverly Hillbillies. Winning Team: Team USA Winning Cocktail: 42Below the Mason-Dixon Line 18 oz. 42Below Pure ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 4 oz. vanilla bean–infused 42Below Manuka Honey 4 oz. Bénédictine 9 oz. lemon 40 oz. hand-pressed apple cider 13 oz. pineapple juice 4 oz. brown sugar oleo saccharum 4 oz. Black and Roobos Sun Tea 4 oz. cinnamon, clove and horopito fig syrup 300 ml. water Mix and serve in chip smoked applewood cups. Team Australia’s winning Hoarie Bagins cocktail. ■ 15 ml. cinnamon-and chili-infused agave syrup 1 kaffir lime leaf ½ lime, juiced 30 ml. apple juice Garnish with chili, kaffir lime leaf and a pear fan. Day 5: The Finals With a new outfit each day, Team Italy was visible from the start but remained at the bottom of the points table throughout the week. However, on the final night, Team Italy—Daniele Dalla Pola, Alexander Frezza and Luca Sai—took home the winning title and trophy. By less than half a percentage point, Team USA came in second with their 1920s-inspired P.T. Pear Fizz. Team Scotland (Aaron Jones, Ben McFarlane and Nick Reed) came in third with Let’s Get Fizzical. David Wondrich sums up: “The standard of the competitors and the competition itself was like nothing I have ever experienced before. I was blown away by my week in Queenstown.” 56 / the tasting panel / may 201 1 2011 Cocktail World Cup Champions: Team Italy Winning Cocktail: Elisir d’Amore ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 45 ml. pineapple- and black peper–infused 42Below 5 ml. lavender-infused 42Below 20 ml. limoncello 15 ml. orange, lemon and ginger syrup 5 ml. Chambord 50 ml. fresh pineapple juice 2 dashes Fernet Branca Shake with ice; strain into a bottle. Serves two. PHOTO COURTESY OF 42BELOW PHOTO COURTESY OF 42BELOW