LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2022

DiageoWorld Class Canada 2021 winner and Global winner James Grant (left) presents Massimo Zitti with this year’s top prize.

The Cocktail Champ Meet this year’s innovative winner.

It takes a global citizen to represent Canada at an international bartending competition and Massimo Zitti, co-owner of Mother cocktail bar on Toronto’s buzzy Queen West strip, has the right mix of skills and stamps in his passport. Zitti hails from Italy, but has lived in the UK, France, and Spain before making Canada his home five years ago. His winning philosophy? Like music, there’s a good cocktail to pair with any moment. “He went into the competition thinking, ‘If I’m going to do it, I’m going to win,’” says Diageo’s Michael Armistead. “He just wowed the judges.” One of the best parts of the experience, Zitti told the Toronto Sun, was meeting his mixology idol, Ago Perrone. “That man is a legend!” he said. Zitti will compete in the World Class Global Final this September in Sydney, Australia.

Diageo’s premium spirits played an essential role in each of the bartending challenges.

Charles Gimlet Try Massimo Zitti’s twist on a classic gin cocktail.

Ingredients 1

oz Tanqueray No. TEN 1/4 oz elderflower liqueur 1 oz fresh lime juice 3/4 oz Bloomsbury Cordial (see below) 2 ml Salted lavender honey Shake and double strain into a cupette and garnish with grapefruit zest.

10 g grapefruit zest 1 g dried chamomile 1 g dried elderflowers 4 g toasted almonds 50 g Cider Vinegar Bring the water to 80 ° then (with heat off) place the botanicals and let steep, covered for 15 mins. Strain and add: 200g caster sugar and 5g citric acid.

Bloomsbury Cordial Combine 500g of water with:

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