This year’s Cocktail Weekend Cocktail of the Year has been crowned as a biscuit-inspired collaboration between a popular Clifton cocktail bar and a local chocolate maker and cafe, known for their luxurious hot chocolates.
The Custard Cream Colada, the winning cocktail, was created by Alex Williams and the team from Her Majesty’s Secret Service, located on Whiteladies Road, in Clifton. The indulgent cocktail combined Disaronno Velvet with coconut rum, Assam tea, pineapple and cacao pulp, and was garnished with a bespoke caramelised white chocolate and custard cream crumb biscuit, crafted by local chocolatiers at Ruby Hue. It was then held together with coconut and passionfruit ganache.
Bartender Alex, from Her Majesty’s Secret Service, said: “The drink is iconically Her Majesty’s. Mixing up a classic cocktail with a unique presentation and buckets of nostalgia, it was great to work with local chocolate makers, Ruby Hue, on the garnish because they are such talents in their field.
“To think that so many people came in and loved our drink, well, I am honoured that we have won. Thank you to everyone who came in to try the drink – we hope to see you all again soon.”
This year saw the second edition of Bristol Cocktail Weekend, with 35 venues across the city creating signature cocktails in celebration of mixology. It was brought to the city by drink and dining experts Living For The Weekend and supported by the Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), with the event being hailed as a ‘resounding success’.
It offered cocktail lovers and foodies alike four days of food, events and exclusive cocktail creations in some of Bristol’s best loved bars. Venues were challenged with the task of creating a signature cocktail, priced at £6, and a signature mocktail, priced at £5 for wristband wearers to try.
Each cocktail was entered into the running for the prestigious title of Bristol Cocktail Weekend’s Cocktail of the Year 2024. In addition to public voting, which was open to those who purchased tickets, a panel of industry professionals from across the UK judged each cocktail on factors including name, inspiration, presentation, taste and originality.
The 11-strong panel included bar owners from around the UK, drinks specialists and PR experts. Festival-goers were also encouraged to share their feedback on the event itself when placing their votes – 100 per cent of participating bars expressed an interest in hosting the festival again in 2025, and 86 per cent of attendees visiting a venue they hadn’t been to previously because of Bristol Cocktail Weekend.
Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living For The Weekend, said: “The second edition of Bristol Cocktail Weekend has been a real success. It’s been wonderful to see the city come together to celebrate its vibrant drinks industry and showcase some of Bristol’s top cocktail venues.
“A special congratulations to Her Majesty’s Secret Service for winning Cocktail of the Year with their incredibly unique – and delicious – concoction. Returning for our second year has been a real joy and we’re excited to continue growing this event in the years to come.”