By James Wilkinson
A cocktail from Bulletin Place’s Tim Philips is set to be served onboard British Airways flights to London, following his victory last night (May 5) in a bespoke competition in Sydney.
To celebrate the airline’s 80th anniversary of flying to Australia, British Airways partnered with Time Out to create a unique cocktail competition whereby the winning bartender’s drink would be featured and served in First Class for a month.
In the competition at Sokyo Lounge last night, Philips fended off tough competition from Tom Egerton (Eau de Vie), Pasan Wijesena (Earl’s Juke Joint), Olive Craig (The Wild Rover) and Michael Chiem (Lobo Plantation) to win not only the prestige of having his beverage served in First Class, but also a Club World Business Class return flight to London.
The winning drink, the ‘Antipodes’ comprised of Tanqueray No. 10, Fino Sherry, Verjuice, Chamomile, and Bitter Lemon and Philips said it was inspired by the era when flying first took off on a global scale.
“The Antipodes Cocktail was inspired by what was popular and abundant in Britain in the 1930’s and how those ingredients are making a renaissance in cocktail culture today,” he said.
“The Antipodes aimed to bring together those elements in a contemporary, simple, elegant and refreshing way.”
Philips said it wasn’t just the allure of the Business Class ticket to London that saw him enter the comp.
“I’ve always been attracted to the idea of coming up with ways to better serve guests interesting drinks on board aeroplanes, especially with the limitations that are associated with air travel,” he said.
“That as well as potentially having the chance to have my name and drink served on board British Airways flights were the main reasons I entered… and the drawcard of a Club World ticket to London return was a bonus.
“I’d like to thank the organisers of Time Out as well as British Airways for putting on such a well-run and well thought out competition and I look forward to seeing my name on a BA menu at altitude soon.”
Time Out Australia CEO, Founder and judge of the competition, Michael Rodrigues, said the idea of running a cocktail competition where the winning drink was served in First Class was about doing something “unique, different, creative and rewarding”.
Fellow judge and British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager for the South West Pacific, Nicole Backo, said Time Out was the ideal partner because of the “publication’s reach, leading content and cocktail insight” and the calibre of the finalists’ drinks “exceeded all expectations” and the airline was looking forward to serving Philips’ Antipodes cocktail in First Class.
The Antipodes will be served at Bulletin Place for one week, starting Thursday May 7, and an announcement will be made soon as to when the drink will be built at 38,000 feet.
