SLTN’s Spirit of the Sixties cocktail competition returns, inspired by the transformative spirit of 1960s counterculture and revolution.

Bartenders will be tasked with crafting cocktails that pay homage to an era marked by social change, artistic expression, and rebellion.

Are your recipes radical?
Can you shake up the status quo?
Then it’s time to take a stand!

“The only way to support a revolution is to make your own.”
– Abbie Hoffman.

Glasgow bartender Mairi McDowall was declared winner of SLTN’s Spirit of the Sixties: Revolution! cocktail competition, after besting a diverse field of competitors from Glasgow, Dundee, Fife and Moray.

Mairi, from Sebb’s in the city’s Miller St, wowed judges with her entry cocktail, ‘Lil’ Pink Pill’, a celebration of the sexual revolution wrought by the hormonal birth control pill, and then followed that up with a winning volume serve, ‘Away From Home’ – which will now be the welcome drink at this November’s SLTN Awards ceremony.

SLTN print editor, Dave Hunter, said: “For our second Spirit of the Sixties competition we challenged bartenders to draw inspiration from the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s and, once again, Scotland’s bartenders didn’t disappoint.

“Everyone who entered rose to the occasion but we were blown away by the talent, passion and creativity of our six finalists. They all did an amazing job on the day.

“After a hard-fought competition, Mairi McDowall was named as our winner. She did an outstanding job of creating and presenting her drinks – her skills were on point, the stories behind her cocktails were excellent and the drinks themselves were tremendous.

“We can’t wait for guests at this year’s SLTN Awards to taste Mairi’s winning cocktail!

“Thanks to everyone who entered Spirit of the Sixties: Revolution! You did us proud!”

Date: Monday 12th May
Time: 12pm
Location: Malo, 12 Bothwell St, Glasgow, G2 6LU

Six finalists were invited to prepare and present two cocktails: their original entry drink and a second cocktail made with Buffalo Trace bourbon.

This second drink should be suitable for preparation in large volumes, as the winner will have their drink served at the 2025 SLTN Awards. This cocktail should be prepared using at least 25ml of Buffalo Trace and without any homemade ingredients. It doesn’t need to be inspired by either the 1960s or the theme of ‘revolution’.

Drinks were scored on:
• Concept: What is the thinking behind the drink? Is there a particular story there? What ingredients have been used and why?
• Flavour: Do the ingredients work well together, creating a well balanced drink?
• Presentation: The entrant’s ability to prepare and present their drinks.