Adelaide bartender Abby Roennfeldt from Hades Hula House to compete in global cocktail competition
SEVEN months after mixing her first drink, Adelaide’s Abby Roennfeldt is serving it up to the country’s best bartenders in the national final of the global Patron Perfectionist cocktail competition.
SEVEN months after mixing her first drink, Adelaide’s Abby Roennfeldt is serving it up to the country’s best bartenders in the national final of the global Patron Perfectionist cocktail competition.
The burlesque performer, who only opened her first restaurant and bar, the Tiki-themed Hades Hula House in February, admitted she felt “nervous and apprehensive” at last month’s regional heat.
“I did make the joke on stage that I’d be more comfortable taking my clothes off than making this drink and talking to you guys about it,” Miss Roennfeldt laughed.
“I did feel extremely out of my depth. I literally made my first ever cocktail when I opened the bar. I’ve done a lot of performing over the years but this was... completely foreign to me.”
Miss Roennfeldt is one of six bartenders who’ll compete for the national crown in Sydney on October 15, with the winner heading to Mexico for the international final.
Her winning cocktail, The Muldjewangk, named after the water-creature in Aboriginal mythology, features indigenous ingredients in combination with Patron tequila.
“I wanted to showcase native ingredients and local mythology to create a new wave tiki experience, paying respect to the natural custodians of this land,” she said.
“I’m nowhere near the best bartender in the world but this cocktail obviously captured the imagination and the flavour profile of the judges.”
Miss Roennfeldt is the only female in the Australian final, and will compete against leading bartenders from Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland and the NT.
“The industry is still very male orientated or dominated but there are some awesome female bartenders around,” she said. “I am very excited to be a woman in the industry at this point in time, Adelaide’s small bar scene is just booming.”
ABBY’S WINNING COCKTAIL - The Muldjewangk
Ingredients
Patron Silver
Patron Reposado
Quandong curacao
Lime juice
Native finger lime pulp
Simple syrup
Put all ingredients into shaker, add ice and shake like a boss.
Pour into stemless wine glass and garnish with native finger lime foam, native finger lime caviar and zest.