Camus Cognac Shanghai Shake Competition West Coast Finals
Jul 13, 2019
JESSE PETERSON WINS THE WEST COAST FINALS
Camus Cognac launched their first-ever annual cocktail competition, Shanghai Shake, where bartenders compete worldwide to put a twist on classic cocktails with Camus Cognac. Under the clock, mixologists have to create a winning cocktail that follows three rules:
1) The main ingredient of each cocktail has to be part of Camus’ new range, of Very Special and VSOP, just launched in April
2) Their concoction should be in reference to a specific existing cocktail, recognized by the International Bartenders Association
3) The twist on a classic cocktail should entail the substitution of other spirits with Camus Cognac, along with modifying ingredients and textures, essentially creating a revisited recipe
Competitions took place over the course of two months in a few select cities: Shanghai, Chengdu, Paris, Moscow, Jersey City, and Los Angeles–where 12 of the best mixology bars in Southern California battled it out. On July 8, the LA-based competition concluded with the West Coast Final to decide who will move on with the other global finalists to compete in the Global Finals in Shanghai, China starting in September. Of the five bartenders who competed, Jesse Peterson won with her cocktail and presentation.
The Judges
Francesco Lafranconi
A world-renowned mixologist, spirits industry educator and icon of cocktail culture, he is the Founder And Managing Partner of MR. COCO, a visionary cocktail lounge at the Palms Casino, Las Vegas. His extensive knowledge and passion for his craft have made him a hit with his A-list celebrity clientele, world-class corporate clients, world renowned Michelin star chefs, national restaurant chains, international hotel companies and the thousands of people who’ve attended his seminars and live events around the world. His distinguished career also includes tenures at the helm of some of the world’s leading hotel bars: The Gleneagles in Scotland; The Palace Hotel in Gstaadt, Switzerland; The Intercontinental Hotel in Cologne, Germany; and Harry’s Bar and HotelCipriani in Venice, Italy.
He has also won some of the world’s most prestigious cocktail competitions, including the Bacardi-Martini Grand Prix World Final and John White Course in Singapore (both involving the I.B.A.), Bartender Hall of Fame Award from Bartender’s Magazine, the Raising the Bar Award from Cheers Magazine, Mixologist of the Year Award from Nightclub and Bar Magazine, Spirit Professional of the Year from Santé Magazine, Tales Of The Cocktail’s Golden Spirit Award and Best In Show at the Iron Mixologist Competition sponsored by Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Of America.
Pedro Shanahan
Pedro Shanahan is the Spirit Guide for the 213 Hospitality Group. An actor/musician who teaches yoga, his love of storytelling fuels his passion for spirits education. He was of the original opening crew at Seven Grand Whiskey Bar in Downtown Los Angeles, helping to develop the fresh-squeezed juice program and Classic Cocktail menu, and the set up of the bar. A barback who received deliveries, unpacked whiskies, educated himself on them, recommending new buys. Seven Grand now has one of the largest selections of whiskies in America and has become a community hub for whiskey lovers in Los Angeles.
Pedro has been co-curating the Seven Grand Whiskey Society for the last 7 years, and for the last 3, he has been hosting The Rum Society at Cana Rum Bar, and the Mezcal Collective at Las Perlas as well. Last year he hosted over 150 events, and recently started posting two episodes a week on The Spirit Guide Society Podcast He conducts weekly public and private tastings, and staff trainings. He writes prose, poetry and songs about whiskey, women, and wanderlust.
Guilherme Valdivieso Jimenez
Guilherme is an award winning Master Mixologist and Global Brand Ambassador of Groupe Camus. He is the founder and partner of The Captain Shanghai – UpShanghai Cocktail Club and holds several prestigious titles. These include: Mixologist Developer at Cavalli Club Dubai and Sky Bar Bangkok, Bar Director of M1NT Shanghai, and Bar director of Unico–The chop-chop club by Paul Pairet Shanghai.
He also holds 15+ awards with his most recent being 2019 Winner China Bar of Excellence UP Shanghai, 2018 Winner Best Mixologist Shanghai, and 2017 Winner Best Bar With a View (The Captain Shanghai).
