At the Swiss Cocktail Open, the largest cocktail competition in Switzerland, 24 bartenders and Barkeeper competed against each other on Monday afternoon, May 6, at Chicago 1928 in Zurich Oerlikon. They had qualified for the final from around 50 applications in the weeks beforehand.
All bar professionals working in Switzerland were able to apply for the lively competition format with a networking area and table fair. They had to use at least one product from an international and one from a Swiss manufacturer for their drinks. In addition, the recipe could contain a maximum of one homemade ingredient and one specialty or niche product.
Top-class finale
In the first round, the 24 participants competed against each other in two groups. The top three in each group qualified for the grand final of the best six. In addition to the eventual winner Flurin Kopp from Tipsy Tiger in Zurich, Spiros Platnaris (Das Weisse Schaf, Lucerne), François Bräuning (Lenox Bar - Zurich Marriott Hotel), Noah Hoffmann (Werk 8, Basel), Kilian Schmied (Hotel Belvedere, Grindelwald) and Amandine Chapolard (Crapule Club, Fribourg) also made it to the final of the best six.
"My Gipfelstürmer cocktail embodies my passion for mountaineering and is intended to show the possibilities of upcycling in the bar."
Flurin Kopp
In the final, Flurin Kopp's creation "Gipfelstürmer" won over the jury across the board. In his cocktail, he combined not-so-fresh croissants with stale champagne and transformed them into a homemade cordial. True to the motto: make new from old. Rye whisky, apricot liqueur, hazelnut liqueur, aquafaba and a caramel summit chip made from croissants from the previous day as decoration.
Best cocktail in Switzerland 2024 "Gipfelstürmer"
by Flurin Kopp | Tipsy Tiger, Zurich
| 3 cl | Gold washer rye whisky |
| 2 cl | Apricot Liqueur The Bitter Truth |
| 1 cl | Kindschi hazelnut liqueur |
| 3 cl | Croissant champagne Cordial (homemade) |
| 1 cl | Aquafaba Oggs |
Decoration: Caramel croissant chip and caramel croissant powder
Second place went to Amandine Chapolard from the Crapule Club in Fribourg with her drink "Color in the air". Kilian Schmied from the Hotel Belvedere in Grindelwald came third with his "Speckerman" cocktail.
Overjoyed winner
The challenge cup was presented by last year's winner Stylianos Kalemis. The winner's trophy thus remains in Zurich. Flurin Kopp's great joy was written all over his face when he lifted the trophy in front of the numerous spectators.
Ranking list
| Cocktail name | Bartender | Local | Total points |
| Gipfelstürmer | Flurin Kopp | Tipsy Tiger, Zurich | 50.20 |
| Color in the air | Amandine Chapolard | Crapule Club, Fribourg | 46.80 |
| Speckerman | Kilian Schmied | Hotel Belvedere, Grindelwald | 44.80 |
| Banana bender | Noah Hoffmann | Plant 8, Basel | 44.60 |
| Golden Rye | François Bräuning | Lenox Bar - Zurich Marriott Hotel, Zurich | 41.60 |
| Mandarin Tree | Spiros Platnaris | The White Sheep, Lucerne | 41.40 |
