How to win the #JustAddRhubi Bartender Competition
With trips and a cash prize on offer, last year’s winner Charlie Hunter shares some winning advice.
What does it take to win a national cocktail comp? Brisbane-based bartender Charlie Hunter knows — last year, Charlie took out the national final of the #JustAddRhubi Bartender Competition, and here, shares some notes on what it took to win the competition.
That’s because the #JustAddRhubi Bartender Competition is back, and with a great prize on offer and invites to Melbourne to for each of the finalists — entries are open now (enter here) to bartenders around Australia.
RHUBI has joined forces with Mix Haus again this year — as well as partnering with Fever-Tree for the first time — to bring the competition around the country, and the finalists to Melbourne for the live finals in November.
And whereas last year’s competition aimed to spotlight female and non-binary bartenders, this time the competition is open to bartenders and allies of all genders.
Below, lightly edited for clarity, Charlie shares her best advice for this year’s comp and for competitions in general.
BOOTHBY: Why did you want to enter the #JustAddRhubi Bartender Competition last year?
CHARLIE HUNTER: It was really important to me to engage in the chances that Mix Haus provides, as championing femme-presenting bartenders in the industry is something I really believe in.
Can you talk to us about your winning entry from last year? What inspired it, how did it come together?
Absolutely! I basically wanted to keep it simple as per the #JustAddRhubi brief, and do a take on the Cosmopolitan cocktail by Cheryl Cook, popularised by Sex & The City. It’s iconic.
To determine what my entry would look like, I asked 50 female/non-binary bartenders across Australia what their favourite cocktail style was, and let the majority vote determine the shape my entry would take. I ended up with a Highball style serve and as you can see by the recipe below it really was quite simple!
With The Times by Charlie Hunter
- 30ml Rhubi Mistelle
- 7.5ml Citrus cordial
- 30ml Cranberry juice
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- soda to top
Build in a Highball glass, and top with soda with a slice of toasted orange.
You competed at the national final - how do you prepare for that? Can you walk us through your process?
Every competition is different, and this one was very fun!
To prepare for the closed judging side I made sure my ingredients were prepped, I got a good night’s sleep so I could feel my best self, and I really just presented my drink by walking them through how I made it, why RHUBI was the perfect base for it and also by how it came to be — explaining my idea behind it.
We also had to create mini serves so that afterwards we could jump behind the bar and pump them out to the crowd. That was amazing and pretty easy for me at least because the crew at Centro 86 were so helpful, they made prep a breeze. And then it was basically like doing the easiest guest shift ever. One drink on the menu, 30 minutes behind the bar and you’re outta there!
What do you think about how the competition has expanded to include allies this year?
I think it’s great, I think that we have come a long way in highlighting that the proportion of opportunities afforded to women and non-binary in this industry can be skewed, and while we still have a ways to go I do think it’s important to provide moments where we can all come together and celebrate the work that Mix Haus is doing — and this competition is one of those moments.
What are the styles of cocktail that you think Rhubi really lends itself to?
I love RHUBI in a Spritzy or Highball fun and bubbly-style serve. I think it really shines and is absolutely delicious with a touch of acidity and some effervescence. I also think it shows up in a Sour with its bold fruitiness and fantastic texture.
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter a cocktail comp for the first time?
Don’t be afraid to collaborate. If this is your first go, I would reach out to people in your community and ask advice, get feedback, the whole shebang. Obviously the whole basis of this serve was collaborating with a community of femme-presenting bartenders within our own hospitality community to create something that I hope represented them in a way. Also, get a good night’s sleep! You will thank yourself for it when it comes time to tell a room full of people what you’ve created!
Important dates
Registrations open: September 4th.
Entries close: October 31.
Finalists announced: early November.
Live final: Tuesday 18th November, at Runner Up Rooftop, Melbourne.
Here’s what you need to do
Create a drink with RHUBI Apéritif and Fever-Tree, offer it in your venue, and share it on social media. Four finalists will be announced in November and flown to Melbourne for the live finals held at Runner Up Rooftop on November 18th, which will determine the winner. The winner will take home the bragging rights, a $1,000 cash prize, stock, and coverage in paid media promotion with Boothby.
To enter, visit the official competition entry form found on RHUBI’s website right here.
After more inspiration? Get a look at two RHUBI recipes from the founders of Mix Haus below.
Sam Bygrave