VIDEO: Jersey barman qualifies for national cocktail-making competition

Ehren Khoo-Steel, the bar manager of the Blind Pig, is one of ten professional bar tenders to be chosen for the UK final of Disaronno’s Mixing Star Global Cocktail Competition.

If he is successful in the contest’s UK round then the bar tender could then make it through to the world final of the competition, which is organised by the popular Amaretto brand.

Earlier this year, Ehren won the local Ultimate Bar Tender Challenge, held at Ce Soir, which focused on whiskey cocktails using the Monkey Shoulder UK brand.

Mr Khoo-Steel also won a similar local competition held last year in conjunction with Reyka Vodka.

Ehren taking part in the challenge

In February, Ehren Khoo-Steel was the winner of the latest Ultimate Bar Tender Challenge.

Organised by pub chain Randalls, the challenge encouraged Jersey’s bartenders to show how creative they could be using whisky as their main ingredient.

Ehren's winning cocktail

The challenge focused on the whisky called Monkey Shoulder UK, and the company’s brand ambassador, Grant Neave, judged the entries along with representatives of William E Grant and local drinks expert Simon Soar.

Speaking at the time, Ehren said he had been inspired to come up with his winning cocktail by taking his inspiration from Scotland, the home of Monkey Shoulder whisky.

‘I wanted to relate some of my ingredients to Scotland, so I decided to make an Irn Bru syrup,’ he said.

‘With this in mind, I wanted to create something that looked like Irn Bru when it was served.

‘I then needed an ingredient that would complement the Monkey Shoulder whisky and the syrup, so I settled on ruby grapefruit juice, which I clarified to make it crystal-clear.

‘A dash of grapefruit bitters to add longevity to the drink, and it was complete.’

Ehren said that the key to a good whisky cocktail was the same as with any other spirits: balance.

‘It is about making sure it’s well balanced and full of flavour,’ he explained.’

‘Personally I like to be able to taste the product that is being used, but everybody has different taste, so it’s a case of adapting to their needs.

‘It was amazing to win the competition.

‘And I can’t wait for my birthday so I can start drinking the 4.5 litre bottle of whisky I won!’

Ehren competing in the competition

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