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Mr Fox wins cocktail competition

Ron Santiago de Cuba has crowned Mr Fox as the winner of its inaugural Casa Del Daiquiri competition.

 — 
Yaw Asante shaking a cocktail at Fern.

Croydon's very own Mr Fox has once again proven its excellence in the world of mixology, having clinched the top spot at the prestigious Casa del Daiquiri cocktail competition hosted by renowned rum brand Ron Santiago de Cuba. The competition, which garnered attention from global professional bartenders, aimed at discovering the finest Ron Santiago de Cuba Daiquiri creations from around the world. It served as a platform for participants to showcase their deep understanding of the brand by crafting their unique signature Daiquiris.

Our Drinks Development Manager, Yaw Asante, left a lasting impression on the esteemed panel of judges with his creation, the Platáno de Fuego. Drawing inspiration from idyllic Cuban sunset beach barbecues, Asante's blend infused the rich flavours of caramelised plantain and the fiery kick of scotch bonnet chillies.

Growing up in a Ghanaian household, I was exposed to a lot of ingredients that are also native to Cuba and surrounding countries. The Casa del Daiquiri competition gave us the perfect opportunity to create a drink that truly celebrates both cultures. With just one whiff of this remarkable rum, we knew we had to pair it with some heat. Imagine a picturesque sunset beach BBQ, sizzling with beautifully seasoned spicy meats, accompanied by fried plantains and grilled pineapples; that’s the essence of ‘Platano de Fuego’.

— Yaw Asante

The judging panel, including Ron Santiago de Cuba brand ambassador Tommy Cole, global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, and Time Out food and drink editor Leonie Cooper, selected the top four cocktails in a semi-final showdown. The serves were then entered into a final vote, which saw judges from Time Out visit the selected bars to sample the cocktails, where they were scored against a set criteria to determine the winner. They described Platáno de Fuego as a really creative drink, with unusual ingredients. Spicy and sweet: perfectly balanced. The team is amazing; the head mixologist was so passionate, and I loved the use of plantain for the garnish.

While the competition saw incredible talents from various establishments, we extend our congratulations to runners-up Bill Protheroe from Hawksmoor Air Street, Giuseppe Quartararo from Nightjar Shoreditch, and Gabriele Staltari from Trailer Happiness.

Join us at Mr Fox to celebrate this remarkable achievement and taste the winning creation that has put Croydon on the global mixology map!