Hankey Bannister Cup 2018: Personality Edition

Well, well, well.  Another Hankey Bannister Cup has been and gone, and my what a time was had by all.

The 2018 Hankey Bannister Cup: Personality Edition asked bartenders to explore their personalities and craft a cocktail based on whether they are Very Hankey, Totally Bannister or a little bit of both. With the most entries ever in the history of our highly acclaimed contest, the competition was fierce, and eight finalists battled it out to be crowned our winner at our live final during Whisky Festival in Jastrzebia Góra.

With little adieu, we’d like to introduce our winner, Szymon Szostek and his winning cocktail.

Coming from Łódź, the third-largest city in Poland, recently dubbed as “one of Europe’s coolest cities” it’s the perfect place to kick-off a career in bartending, and after 3 and a half years at Niebostan, bartending is more than just a job, it’s a lifelong passion for our champion. 

Did you know? - Poland’s first permanent cinema was founded in Łódź in the late 1900s, talk about a cultural hotspot!

We’re firm believers that our blend should be enjoyed however one wants, whether neat, on ice, with a mixer or in a cocktail and Syzmon seconds that.  He began exploring Hankey Bannister Original, before being introduced to Heritage Blend, it was then that he began to appreciate our Blended Scotch Whisky.

This year’s entrants were charged with crafting a cocktail inspired by their personality, but, Syzmon approached this differently and took inspiration from our founders.  So what would it be? - Very Hankey, Totally Bannister or a little bit of both? – Well, a little bit of both makes for a contemporary gentleman.  The characteristics of a very social Hankey combined with the business smarts of Bannister results in a winning cocktail, “The Modern Gentleman.”  Would you like to discover if you’re Very Hankey, Totally Bannister or a little bit of both? Take our quiz to find out.