Adelaide’s legendary mixologist Chad Hanson has wowed one of the world’s biggest names to take out a national cocktail competition in Sydney.
Chad was one of three South Australian finalists flown to Sydney to create a cocktail for legendary American bartender Dale DeGroff.
Dale was in Australia for The Works program which included a competition where bartenders from across Australia were charged with creating original concoctions to impress the bartending legend.
The bartenders had to create a cocktail with no more than five ingredients and base it around a classic and Chad’s was deemed best by Dale.
“To put things into context, for a career bartender meeting Dale DeGroff and having the opportunity to make him one of your own cocktails is like a chef having the opportunity to cook for Massimo Bottura, Heston Blumenthal or Gordon Ramsey,” said Chad.
“I’m truly honoured and humbled just to have an experience that is sought after by so many around the world. Walking away with the win, having the ‘King of Cocktails’ select my drink as the best on the day, is pretty surreal.”
For the competition Chad created the Paradise Found which based on the classic Paradise Cocktail which combine apricot brandy and Bombay gin.
Chad has a long history of impressing at cocktail competitions including representing Australia at 42Below Cocktail Cup in 2012. He was also the winner of the Angostura Barrel Aged Cocktail, the Glenfiddich Pioneers Competition in Scotland and the Monkey Shoulder Submersive Serve.
Chad currently co-owns Electra House Hotel who has also recently received praise and acknowledgment through numerous awards including as the AHA Award for Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice, the Restaurant and Catering Awards 2018 South Australia Asian Restaurant and the City Awards 2018 Best Green Business.
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