No.3 Gin has announced the return of the Pursuit of Perfection Cocktail Competition for 2023, launching on 20th February.


Now in its third year, it has become one of the most talked-about and respected cocktail competitions in the global drinks industry. ‘Mastering Classics’ is the brief for this year, challenging entrants to select a classic cocktail and bringing it into the modern day with a unique twist.

The competition will be open to Spanish entrants for the first time, alongside the existing markets - the UK, Italy and Germany. Bar and drinks-industry professionals from each country will compete in regional and national heats to win a place at the global final held at the No.3 distillery in Schiedam, the Netherlands.

Entrants will be invited to submit a cocktail recipe using the award-winning No. 3 London Dry Gin in a modern take on a classic cocktail. They must select ingredients from a set pantry and re-use them, to reduce waste.

A judging panel made up of international experts will preside over the initial shortlisting process, after which the competition’s regional heats will take place in-person at venues around the UK and Europe.

The top three competitors from each country will travel to the No.3 distillery in Schiedam to battle it out in the Pursuit of Perfection global final in September 2023. Here, the global finalists will create their drinks for a star-studded line-up of judges at the No.3 distillery over two days of intense competition.

The prize

For the first time, the global winner will receive a £3,000 cash prize. They will also win a takeover at a world-class bar in either Italy, Germany, Spain or the UK, co-hosted with the No.3 Gin Global Brand Ambassador, Ross Bryant. The winner from each country will win a bespoke prize to be revealed later.

Timeline

The competition will begin with online entries from 1st March and culminate in national and global finals held at the No.3 Distillery in Schiedam. Please find all dates below

• 20th February – Online entries submitted at no3competition.co.uk

• 10th April – Deadline for entries

• 11th 19th April – Judging of initial entries

• 19th April – Announcement of regional heat competitors

• 15th May-10th July – Regional heats to take place

● 31st July – UK national heat, hosted at Berry Bros. & Rudd

● 25th September – National final in Schiedam

● 26th September – Global final in Schiedam

More information and a full list of entry criteria can be found at no3competition.co.uk.