DUNDEE bartender Sarah Berardi will head to London later this month after winning the Scottish heat of Southern Comfort’s Southern Showdown cocktail competition.
Mixologists representing venues from five Scottish cities went head to head in the contest at cocktail bar Kin on Barony Street. They were tasked with recreating the spirit of their home town in a cocktail using Southern Comfort, which is distributed in the UK by Hi-Spirits.
Louisiana-born Berardi, general manager and head bartender at Draffens in Dundee, was crowned the winner for her creation Mississippi Mama, a sweet ice tea-style drink that paid tribute to her mother.
Dan Elphinstone of Orchid in Aberdeen was second with his Newton Tall Boy drink, while the Voyage of Buck’s Ciaran Russell combined Southern Comfort and Champagne.
Judges, Kin’s Sam Baxendale, Sussex bartender David White and Iain McPherson, owner of Edinburgh bars Panda & Sons and Hoot The Redeemer, were unanimous in their decision with Berardi now set to represent Scotland at the UK final on May 21.
