The winning entry in the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Cocktail Competition 2008 was created by bartender Andrzej Sakowicz of Deseo Restaurant in The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire.

Andrzej created the Auld Alliance cocktail to mark the 2008 Spirit of Speyside Festival and won the competition against entries from well-known cocktail bars at the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle and the Rocpool Reserve Hotel in Inverness.

Andrzej based his long drink on the Festival’s own Spirit of Speyside Blended Malt, adding equal measures of Calvados and apple schnapps. A touch of honey was stirred into the mix, and the glass topped up with ginger ale to make a deliciously refreshing whisky cocktail.

Judge Regis Lemaitre acquired his passion for fine malt whisky during his many years experience working at the highest levels of the hospitality industry. Following the finals, held at the prestigious Craigellachie Hotel, he said: “Andrzej’s selection of the two apple flavoured liqueurs complement the Spirit of Speyside Blended Malt perfectly. And by topping up the drink with ginger ale, he adds a little zing to this light and refreshing cocktail.

The Spirit of Speyside Blended Malt was created especially for the 2008 Spirit of Speyside Festival, and is made up of 35 whiskies from the area. All the whisky for this limited edition blend was donated by the distilleries of Speyside.

For more informatiion visit www.spiritofspeyside.com