On Thursday 7 February, Crown Melbourne’s Club 23 attempted to break the Guinness World Records record for the world’s most expensive cocktail.
The cocktail was made with two nips of Cognac Croizet’s world record holding 1858 Cuvee Leonie Cognac which recently sold at auction for $157 000 USD. Club 23’s executive bartender, Joel Heffernan’s creation also included Grand Marnier “Quintessence,†Chartreuse “Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé,†and a dash of Angostura bitters.
Joel Heffernan, Executive Bartender, Club 23, Crown Melbourne with his record-breaking cocktail, Winston
The cocktail was misted with a dry ice essence which was infused with orange and lemon peel, angelica and star anise.
The aptly named cocktail, “Winston,†was presented under a cloche. It was served on a bed of “chocolate and nutmeg soufflé soil†and presented with hand-made spun sugar and Chartreuse grapevines made by sensational chef trio, John Lawson, Dalmaine Blignaut and Mario Wischnewski from Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar.
A buyer who wishes to remain anonymous purchased the $12,500.00 AUD cocktail.
An additional 11 cocktails will be available for purchase, however, as each cocktail requires 16 hours of labour, cocktails must be ordered two days in advance.
To celebrate the record attempt, 100 replica cocktails, using XO Croizet Cognac, Chartreuse and Grand Marnier were served to assembled guests in attendance.
