Famous Grouse

A Newcastle barman has won a national competition run by The Famous Grouse’s Naked Grouse brand to create the perfect Old Fashioned whisky cocktail – using only spirit, sugar, bitters and water.

John Collingwood, of No.28 in Newcastle, won first place with his creation – The Bitter Sweet Grouse – which contains a double measure of The Naked Grouse, 2 dashes of grapefruit bitters, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, 10ml of The Snow Grouse whisky, 10ml of Aperol and a syrup reduction made especially for the competition using Wylam brewery beer. The drink was garnished with a twist of pink grapefruit.

Maxiuum’s Wayne Collins, the chair of the judging panel, said in a media release: “We have been hugely impressed by the standard of entries into our challenge. The creativity, imagination and skill shown by the UK’s bartenders has been incredible.

“Our aim is to create simple, authentic cocktails that let the unique characteristics of this quality whisky shine through. We were blown away by John’s creation – The Bitter Sweet Grouse – as it accentuates the whisky rather than diluting its flavours.”

The Naked Grouse premium blended whisky contains two of the world’s most renowned malts – Highland Park and The Macallan, which are then slow-matured in first fill Spanish sherry casks – and is available from retail outlets priced at £28.21.