Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/306378
COMPETITIONS W hen 35 Maple Street Spirits, Sonoma, CA's own craft spirits company, announced a recipe contest featuring their Uncle Val's Botanical Gin, countless bartenders from all over the U.S. entered—hoping their recipe would win them a trip to the 2014 Nightclub & Bar Show in Las Vegas and a chance to compete in a live competition, ultimately earning their cocktail the title "Botanical Best." The company's Northeast Regional Manager, Harvard Gates, explains, "Uncle Val's is so perfect for this competition because this particular style of gin, with complex aromas and flavors, is very intriguing to mixologists, and there are an endless number of creative possibilities when mixing with it." With such a versatile and flavorful gin, the four finalists did a wonderful job of showing off their diversity and creativity, but ultimately it came down to one winner. Ginny Edwards, Bar Manager at Boston's Erbaluce restaurant, wowed the judges with her Stroll to Provence cocktail. "I wanted to take the flavors found in the beautiful Uncle Val's botanical profile and elevate them," says Edwards, "while simultaneously evoking a taste of place. The cocktail is meant to emulate the sensory experience of walking through the hillsides of Southern France." Insisting on using all of her own fresh ingredients and bar tools, Edwards crafted a creative cocktail that beautifully explored the botanical flavors and aromas that make Uncle Val's so different. Check out her recipe at right and look out for two new blends of Uncle Val's coming soon! A Fresh-Picked Winner Stroll to Provence by Ginny Edwards ◗ 1½ oz. Uncle Val's Botanical Gin ◗ ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice ◗ ¾ oz. lavender simple syrup ◗ 1 oz. egg white ◗ Housemade thyme soda ◗ Lemon twist and fresh thyme sprig for garnish ◗ Combine all ingredients except thyme soda into a dry mixing glass. Cover with a mixing tin and dry-shake. Once dry-shaken, add ice and hard shake. Strain the contents into an empty coupe glass and top with housemade thyme soda. Garnish with a long lemon twist wrapped around a fresh thyme sprig. HERBS COME TO THE FOREFRONT AS MIXOLOGISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY COMPETE IN THE UNCLE VAL'S GIN "BOTANICAL BEST" RECIPE COMPETITION by Breanne DeMore/ photos by Mona Shield Payne 35 Maple Street Spirits' Vice President of West Region Sales, Michael Sheetz, presents Botanical Best winner Ginny Edwards with her check and trophy. Edwards exclaimed, "I'm over the botanical moon!" TP0514_034-71.indd 61 4/24/14 11:03 PM