Tio Pepe Challenge is an international competition in which professional bartenders of different nationalities compete with the aim of demonstrating their knowledge of Sherry wines and their great potential as a key ingredient in the preparation of cocktails. The international final will be held on 10 and 11 May 2022 in Jerez de la Frontera, the global home of Sherry where you can breathe the love and culture of wine, during the traditional Feria de Jerez.
To triumph at the Italian final of the Tio Pepe Challenge, held on April 12th at Magnolia of Naples, it was Giacomo Colantuono, bartender at Jeffer Cocktails&Friends in Pisa. And for him, now, all that remains is to wait to board a plane for Andalusia, his destination Jerez de la Frontera, the global home of sherry, where the international final will take place on 11 May.
Selected together with nine other semi-finalists, Giacomo Colantuono stood out in the eyes of the jury composed of Joao Vicente, Marco Masiero And Riccardo Rossi in the three phases of the competition: the tasting, a blinding test of the products Gonzales Bias; there venice challenge, a test of familiarity in using the venice, in which the style, the quantity of liquid poured into the glass and the final cut were evaluated; and finally the presentation of the drink, the most important test.
Giacomo Colantuono, who had also won the #tiopepewildcardit for shooting the best video (instagram reel) while using venencia, did a double by winning over the judges with the presentation of his drink Cien Por Sherry. “I called it Cien Por Sherry, which means “one hundred percent sherry”, since the concept of the cocktail was to recall the main flavor of sherry and enhance it on the palate in all the preparations and ingredients of the cocktail. The final touch was the addition of celery, which picked up the freshness of the palomino fino, the grapes used to produce Tio Pepe, and some black pepper to enhance the spiciness of the barrel" Giacomo Colantuono tells us.
“The Tio Pepe Challenge was my first competition, I didn't expect to be able to reach such a goal. It was a stimulating experience, in which I was able to meet with many professionals and make great acquaintances. From the world final I expect to have fun, I will do my best to try to win".
Winning recipe: CIEN POR SHERRY
30ML SHERRY PALOMINO FINO
90ML CORDIAL CELERY & SHERRY PALOMINO FINO
10ML BLACK PEPPER SHERRY PALOMINO FINO SYRUP
40ML SHERRY PALOMINO FINO SODA
WAFFLE 'LA FLOR'
