FOR three young Kiwis, hospitality isn’t just a job. It’s a passion and a career for life.
Wellington boys Calem Chadwick and Josh Crawford, and Aucklander James Goggin, are representing New Zealand in the 42Below Cocktail World Cup.
The three were selected after they were judged best in New Zealand at the national cocktail finals. The win didn’t come without a lot of hard work.
“Two years ago I decided to focus fulltime on hospitality,” says Goggin from Auckland’s Racket Bar. “I studied, went to seminars, read heaps of books and spent a lot of time on the Internet.”
For Crawford from Hooch Bar, hospitality was love at first sight. “I haven’t looked back since”, while Chadwick from Matterhorn “bought every bad cocktail book I could and picked out the good parts”.
The men have since realised cocktail making is an art, and they each have different methods to craft the perfect brew.
The general consensus, however, is to choose the base of the drink first, and work from there. And use as few ingredients as possible.
“A good analogy is if you have a gorgeous piece of steak, you want to add to it so it reaches it’s full potential, and not to cover it up,” says Chadwick.
As for cocktail tips from the masters? You need a good palate, be willing to learn, and a love of alcohol, (Crawford’s recently broken leg is evidence of this).
Matterhorn on Cuba Street kindly flew Goggin down to Wellington so he can work there for the next three nights and practice for the world finals with his team.
“We have to make five cocktails for the competition, so we’re still fine-tuning them,” says Goggin.
The three men are delighted to be competing against world class cocktail makers from the US, Australia, Ireland, England, France and Italy, and say if they win, the title and the opportunities that will come from it are more important than the prize.
It would also be the first time a New Zealand team has claimed the title since the competition since it began six years ago.
The 42Below Cocktail World Cup kicked off in Queenstown on March 22, and will travel North to Wellington for a final event at the old Museum building, Massey University, 7pm, March 27.