Thailita Alves Crowned Winner of Australian Tahona Cocktail Competiton

Thailita Alves, bartender of Bulletin Place, Sydney, has won the Australian Tahona Society National Final, held on June 14th, 2016.

The international Tahona Cocktail Competiton returned for the second year this year. The Australian leg of the competiton was held at El Loco Excelsior in Surry Hills. Competitors were tasked with the challenge of creating their unique cocktail with Olmeca Altos tequila at the centre, in front of Maestro Tequilero (Master Distiller), Mr. Jesús Hernández.

Alves’ winning cocktail, Red Lands, was inspired by the ‘tierra roja’ of the Los Altos region. The cocktail included Altos Reposado, Suze, aromatic bitters brushed with broiled white grapefruit juice, roasted wattle seed and cacao cordial, lemon myrtle sea salt and fresh raspberries. Alves garnished the cocktail with sprigs of myrtle leaves to resemble the agave plant, and a dusting of dehydrated raspberry micro powder to symbolise the earth.

On choosing Alves as thw winner, Hernández said, “There was a good story behind the cocktail to start, a good projection, and a lot of confidence. The ingredients were pretty creative and worked well in the cocktail. So it was whole. When we were judging the finals in the different countries, we also keep in mind how they’re going to do in the final world competition in September.”

Alves and fellow national winners from across the globe will travel to Mexico this September to compete for the chance to be crowned international champion and become a Tahona Society Global Ambassador for one year.

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