SHAKEN SEMI-FINALS RULES & RECIPES
Round 1
Welcome Cocktail-
-Prepare a welcome cocktail (at home) for the three judges plus 1 more for the photographer. We suggest creating a menu to display on the bar.
-You will need to provide your own glassware.
-There are no restrictions on what products you use and you must provide all the ingredients and include glassware.
Round 2
Classic Cocktail-
-You will have 15 minutes to make the designated classic cocktail and a riff on it. At the halfway point I will announce another classic cocktail in which you will only have to make a riff on that classic.
-In total you will have to make a classic, riff on the classic and a riff on the second classic announced at the halfway point. You do not need to make the original of the second announced classic.
-Just like the qualifying rounds each drink must be made four times.
Round 3
Mystery Round- Final two contestants will compete head to head for 25 minutes. The judges and contestants will be brought food, the contestants job is to pair their restriction cocktail with the food to the best of their abilities with the restrictions for that cocktail in place. Each contestant will spin a mystery wheel. For example if contestant no. 1 spins the wheel and it lands on “no citrus” and contestant no. 2 spins the wheel and it lands on “no clear spirits”, both competitors have to make a cocktail with these restrictions.
Upon completion of this, competitors will have access to their mystery bags which will include mystery ingredients. Competitors must use mystery ingredients in all cocktails from this point forward. They DO NOT have to pair these cocktails with the food. If making more than one cocktail, you don’t need to include all three in the same drink. Mystery ingredients should be at the forefront of these cocktails. Competitors must make a minimum of two cocktails, spin the wheel cocktail (x4) and mystery cocktail (x4) in this round. Volume of cocktails only gives you an advantage in the event of a tie score.
*Classic/Modern Classic Cocktails-Will be chosen randomly from a list provided to all contestants. Each cocktail will be listed on the Shaken website. www.shakencomp.com
Ingredients/Equipment-All necessary ingredients will be provided to include: spirits, assorted bitters and shrubs, fresh squeezed juices, syrups, agave nectar, eggs, fresh herbs, fresh fruit and vegetables, and glassware. Different venues will have different equipment (shakers, jiggers, muddlers, etc…) so we recommend brining your own bar tools much like a chef brings his own knifes to work. Do not bring glassware.
SHAKEN RECIPES
Download the official Shaken rules and recipes using the link below
Shaken Rules & Recipes Semi-Finals
JUDGING ELEMENTS DEFINED
Cocktail Appearance and Perception:
The judges will be looking at the overall appearance of the cocktail. Is it appealing to the eye? Does it stand out from other cocktails? Does the overall appearance make sense?
Use of Secret Ingredient:
The judges will be looking for how well did the competitor utilize the secret ingredient? Was it simply used as a garnish, was it broken down and used various ways to help compliment the cocktail rather then just thrown in or as a simple garnish.
Aroma:
The judges will be looking for the overall aroma of the cocktail. Is the odor appealing and help stimulate it’s consumption or is the odor unappealing and lack characteristics that don’t make sense with the recipe?
Taste:
The judges will be looking for the overall taste of the cocktail. Does the cocktail distinguish itself from other cocktails and is the taste appealing to the palate? Is the taste experience pleasurable and entice the senses as it is enjoyed by the tongue? Is the cocktail well balanced?
General Impression:
The judges will be looking for the overall impression of the cocktail as a whole. Is the cocktail pleasurable overall and does it leave the senses as memorable in a positive way? Would you order another one?
Bartending Skills:
The judges will be looking for the overall and technical skills of the bartender. Are they clean and precise or sloppy and sporadic? Are they in control of their tools?
Classic/Riff Heritage:
The judges will be looking for how true to the recipe the bartender’s cocktail is? The bartender may choose to deviate from the original recipe and may score lower in this category but may score higher in other categories with their cocktail. It is all strategy.
Food Pairing:
The judges will be looking for how well the bartender pairs a cocktail with the food that is being presented under their restrictions from the mystery wheel. Does that cocktail compliment the food and create a better experience being enjoyed together or does it lack a connection not making sense and make the dish worse being consumed together with the cocktail?
Download the Shaken Semi-Finals judges score sheets