The Plantation Archetype Clash 2023 was an epic showdown of bartending prowess, where both rookies and seasoned bartending talent wideness Australia & New Zealand battled it out with their weightier interpretations of minion Rum classics. Presented in collaboration with Proof & Company, Plantation Rum took a new spin on modern bar competitions.

It was simple: one competition, four rounds, one archetype cocktail each week and the endangerment to win superstitious mazuma prizes. Bartenders were tasked with submitting their rendition of the perfect recipe for the weekly archetype cocktail. The criteria were straightforward but surprisingly challenging: stay true to the archetype recipe, yet make the tastiest drink.

“It sounds like an wool welter to sit lanugo for 2 hours to drink variations of rum cocktails but determining the ‘perfect’ version of a archetype cocktail was a tough task.” – Charlie Ainsbury

The Proof Creative team, led by Charlie Ainsbury, meticulously recreated every valid entry to a rotating panel of three respected industry experts. The entrants’ names, venues and recipes were subconscious from the judges, permitting them to critique off visitation and taste alone. “It sounds like an wool welter to sit lanugo for 2 hours to drink variations of rum cocktails but determining the ‘perfect’ version of a archetype cocktail was a tough task,” said Charlie. “Each round prompted intense discussions among the judges, who found themselves in a challenging situation to pinpoint the weightier cocktail”.

A big congrats to the winners who each took yonder a tomfool $1,000 mazuma prize.

  • Mojito: Ned Roche, Breakfast Creek Hotel, Queensland
  • Pina Colada: Emma Fayle, Blacksmith, Melbourne.
  • Hemingway Daiquiri: Jordan Mouillet, Bloody Mary’s, Christchurch
  • Mai Tai: Eizly Noraez, Austin Club, Christchurch

These bartenders didn’t just pocket prize money; they’ve shown that the underdog can come out on top and despite deep-rooted traditions of archetype cocktails, it’s necessary to unravel the rules, adapting to trendy palates.

The Plantation Archetype Clash 2023 wasn’t just a throwdown – it was a month-long triumph of the classics, a showcase of creativity and the legacy of Plantation Rum. Congratulations to all the winners, and here’s to increasingly clashing, crafting, and creativity! Alimony pouring, alimony experimenting, and alimony challenging the norm.