Pre-Mixed Challenge Are you

From classic ready-to- such as WKD to Funkin pouches and bottles shaped like shakers, the pre-mixed drinks category is booming. Lucy Britner chaired the 2011 Pre-Mixed Drinks Challenge

ollowing its successful launch in 2009, DI’s Pre-mixed Drinks Challenge attracted entries from around the world. The competition was launched to celebrate the burgeoning readymade alcoholicF drinks sector and assess the quality of the drinks that are part of it. Judges were chosen for their variety of expertise, whether it be as a technical expert, an on-trade professional or a master of the off-trade. The quintet was briefed to assess the quality of the drinks from a consumer perspective as well as give their professional opinion. Judges spent the day slurping and swilling their way through 50 drinks and the general feeling was that this is a relatively young sector with more room for innovation. The competition was split in to categories: classic alcoholic /mixer combination; original/unique product combinations; original/unique product combination; shooters; readymade ; classic cocktails (user adds ); contemporary alcoholic drink/mixer combination. General observations from the judges included comments on the quality of the base spirit used in Gold some of the drinks, as well as the quality of , particularly in the spirit and mixer combinations.    4c\YW\ Judges also remarked on the intense sweetness of Piña Colada   4c\YW\ some of the products and they said they felt a natural Capel Ice Citrus   1O^SZ fruit flavour was lacking in some cases. Rum/Cola   ;O\QVSabS`2`W\Ya1][^O\g /Diet Cola   ;O\QVSabS`2`W\Ya1][^O\g Products on the medals table were praised for their balance of sweetness, and flavour.

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Silver

Gin/Tonic ;O\QVSabS`2`W\Ya1][^O\g /Diet Tonic  ;O\QVSabS`2`W\Ya1][^O\g Strawberry  4c\YW\ Bar2DR /aRO

Quality Award

WKD Original Blue 0SdS`OUS0`O\Ra Woody’s Sasparilla 0SdS`OUS0`O\Ra Pomtini 0SdS`OUS0`O\Ra Oscar’s Cosmopolitan /ZRWQ]ESPS`AVO\ReWQY Mai Tai Coppa B]]`O\Y Mai Tai Bar2dr /aRO 3DFLÀF0DL7DL D\11]QYbOWZa Capel Ice Mandarina 1O^SZ Sea Breeze Coppa B]]`O\Y Long Island Iced Coppa B]]`O\Y Long Island Bar2DR /aRO Coppa B]]`O\Y Capel Toffee Colada 1O^SZ Passionfruit Capriosca D\11]QYbOWZa Capel Sour 1O^SZ

The judges

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