The earliest cocktail publication from New Zealand

Great little share over the weekend from BH Simpson over at Smoke & Oakum Gunpowder Rum. This little pamphlet was produced by Maling & Co in Christchurch, New Zealand, that’s Maling’s above in the picture, as it looked around the start of the 1960s. The Company began in 1907 and went out of business some time in the late sixities.

The pamphlet itself was printed at Somerset Print, a family owned print business that started in 1955 and even after the earthquake, is still in business today. I’d say from the graphics on the pamphlet, that this was a job from the first few years of doing business.

Still pretty light on the details, but this might be the earliest kiwi cocktail book. I’d certainly be interested in anyone able to shed some more light, or prove me wrong with an older item.

The embed below keeps giving me trouble, so if it’s not displaying, you can view it here.

42 Below Cocktail World Cup Grand Final Redux

My massive week with 42  Below finished up last Saturday with the finals of Cocktail World Cup. The competition was the brainchild of founder, Geoff Ross. Now in its 6th year, the World Cup sees bartenders from around the world challenged to develop and produce a cocktail to rival the classics, extra marks are awarded for delivering the drink with humour and style that reflects the brands values as well.

Heaps of brands now fly bartenders to the country of production to provide them an “authentic” brand experience. 42 lets the animal out of the cage, good and proper. The whole deal was promoted as a Love, Drinks and Rock’n’Roll, which is how a lawyer references the excesses of Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll.

The final itself is the culmination of many months, semifinals around the world determine who gets to go down to New Zealand, experience the brand in its home. I thought I’d share a little piece of the finals with you, the teams, their drinks and the event itself. It’s not quite the same as being there, but as there were only 600 tickets, chances are you weren’t.

Get amongst, after the jump.