CONCOCTING A WINNING MIX
ORIENTAL Spiced London Dry Gin Opihr (pronounced O-peer) is hosting its fifth annual Opihr World Adventure Cocktail Competition. To qualify, bartenders were asked to submit original recipes using a local ingredient which complements Opihr.
The bartenders with the best recipes will be invited to the South African final to share their creations with the judges, mixologist and bar owner Mmiso Luphondo, photographer and film director Justice Mukheli and last year’s global winner from Chicago, Aaron Pollack.
The winner of the regional round will be sent to Istanbul to compete in the global final with 10 competitors for the title of “The Spirit of Opihr.”
The champion will win a trip for two to a mystery location on the Spice Route. The global final will take place from September 24-27.
The Cape regional finals will take place on Tuesday at the The Zeitz Museum, where six finalists will compete. We get to know the judges, Mukheli and Luphondo.
Mmiso Luphondo: Owner of Phirinyane Bar and head mixologist at Mmisology
You’ve been quoted as saying that you really believe in what you’re doing. How has this attitude helped bring your entrepreneurial dreams to life?
This belief enhances my willingness to execute everything I think we are not currently offered in the industry, which is educating people about the beverages that they love so much; developing an appreciation opens up their interest in everything we create.
You are an adventurous guy when it comes to experimenting with flavours. What attracted you to mixology?
My fascination with discovering new taste profiles and shocking my taste buds is something that has gripped me by the tongue. That one can imagine a taste and get something totally different is incredible to me. So that is why I chose to do what I do.
Talk to us about building a culture of mindful consumption. Why is it important to you that people know where their ingredients come from?
It is really important to know what you are consuming and to develop an educated palate, as you gain a huge amount of appreciation when you know exactly what your beverage contains. It also opens up an opportunity for people to explore a bit more around the flavours they have discovered. You start to engage with the origins of certain ingredients and in turn gain a greater knowledge about their history and origin.
Knowledge opens up a lot of opportunities and that’s the beauty. We have lots to discover!
You’re judging the regional final of the Opihr World Adventure Cocktail Competition. What are you looking for a winning cocktail recipe?
Besides a delicious cocktail, I’m looking forward to being taken on a journey with their cocktails. I want a trip through their minds. I want to feel like I created this experience that I’m being exposed to. Presentation is just as important, because I consume with my eyes before anything else.
What local ingredient do you think best pairs with Opihr’s blend of botanicals, spices and herbs?
I only recently tried Opihr and I must say, it’s a real treat. A double shot of Opihr gin with a homemade ginger beer is out of this world. It pairs very well with the spiciness of the gin.
Justice Mukheli: Photographer and director
You are a self-taught photographer and film director. Who first introduced you to the craft and how have you honed your skills?
I started working in advertising in 2009. Working with the photographer or film director, it became a lot more interesting to me. The process and technicalities fascinated me. So I picked up a camera and started taking my own photographs.
You were part of celebrated collective “I See A Different You”. How has your creative process changed now that you’ve gone solo?
My process has changed in the sense that I can create from the heart without having to get buy-in from the team. I love creating, so being on my own makes that easier.
You’ve been quoted as saying that every person has a story and that story is worth capturing. What attracts you to the people you photograph?
A person’s face is so powerful. You can read someone’s life through their eyes. I’ve always had an interest in what people feel and think about in their daily lives. What do they like? What are their struggles? What is it that makes them who they are? So all these questions made me want to see the world through the eyes of another and grasp their experience of life. I obviously could never actually see the world through another’s eyes, and so I decided to capture a portrait in such a way that that person’s journey speaks beyond their portrait. If I manage to get that right, a portrait of a person becomes a reflection of their world.
You’re a judge in the regional final of the Opihr World Adventure Cocktail Competition. What are you looking for in the winning cocktail recipe?
Freshness and something unique that complements Opihr.