AROUND 100 bartenders from across Scotland gathered in Glasgow and Edinburgh earlier this month for masterclasses hosted by English craft gin Brockmans.
Attendees were given a history of the Brockmans brand accompanied by a gin tasting before being offered the chance to get creative and mix up their own bespoke serve using the spirit.
Brockmans brand ambassador Mike Whatmough said the idea behind the events was to give bartenders the “right tools to introduce our gin to consumers”.
Also at the events was Grant Cunningham of Brockmans distributor Indie Brands.
Cunningham was bullish about the prospects for gin in the Scottish trade, saying it’s the first category he has seen where “customers are going in and pushing for bartenders to stock brands”.
“Brockmans is definitely becoming that kind of brand,” said Cunningham.
Bartenders at the Glasgow masterclass, held in Cup Merchant City (pictured right), competed in an impromptu cocktail competition at the end of the gin session for the chance to win a bespoke Brockmans leather apron said to be worth £250.
Gavin Millar of Buzzworks venue Elliots in Prestwick picked up the prize with his winning cocktail – which he dubbed “Leather Apron”.
Millar’s winning serve made use of Brockmans Gin, St-Germain liqueur, lemon juice, pink grapefruit and vanilla extract.
