Cocktail maestros shake it up

Flames, jam and tea are just some of the elements that two Bunbury-based bartenders hope will give them a competitive edge on the global cocktail stage.

Lost Bills manager Ash Black and employee Mat Blake are Bunbury’s only entrants in the BACARDÍ Legacy Global Cocktail Competition and they are ready to put their small bar “on the map”.

The pair have been hard at work concocting exciting combinations and said their mixes combined personal creativity with subtle nods to well-known Lost Bills flavours.

“I wanted to use something you wouldn’t normally use that is also unique to our bar and something that we use,” Mr Blake said.

Mr Blake’s entry, Frankie Gumina - a tribute to his late grandfather - puts an intriguing spin on flaming absinthe and peppermint tea.

“We want to prove and show Bunbury people it is an art,” he said.

Along with wanting to pursue something challenging, Mr Black said his cocktail creativity was driven by a desire to impress his customers.

“It’s about creating stuff for customers and seeing what makes them happy,” Mr Black said.

He is hoping his creation Dulce Memoria will get him over the line with its interesting twist on a breakfast condiment.

Success in the Western Australian leg of the competition could see the master mixers battle it out for a national finalist position which would secure them a spot at the global finals in Berlin next year.