If you love a finely crafted highball, it’s time to head to Midlife Crisis as mixologist Kitibordee was crowned the Thai champion of the Dewar’s Highball Challenge.
Perfecting the highball cocktail may seem simple with its minimal ingredients, but it actually requires expert craftsmanship. Recognising the importance of this skill, Dewar’s, a Scotch whisky brand, has launched The Dewar’s Highball Challenge. This competition invites bartenders to showcase their creativity, expertise, and mastery by crafting innovative and modern cocktails using Dewar’s Double-Aged Scotch Whisky.
[All Images Courtesy of Dewar’s]
Kitibordee from Midlife Crisis wins the Dewar’s Highball Challenge in Thailand
After meticulously evaluating 64 talented mixologists, the judges selected three finalists: Kitibordee from Midlife Crisis, Nakrop from Firefly Bar, and Pitt Punpiputt from Asia Today Bar.
With such an intense competition, the judges finally concluded the ultimate champion, hosting the announcement at The House on Sathorn. As the three finalists and guests showed up, Kitibordee was crowned the Thai champion, winning an epic trip to Japan, a cash prize, and recognition for his impressive skills and creativity.
During Kitibordee’s event at Midlife Crisis, the attendees were in for a treat with the Dewar’s Highball Booth and Highball Machine. However, what truly blew them away was the juicy Chicken Lamborghini with Dewar’s Highball pairing. And since this exciting event was during the festive season, there was even a fun pre-festive gift exchange.
As the Thai champion, he is now preparing for an exciting journey to Japan. The other winners across Asia will also join him in this immersive highball culture experience.
“The Dewar’s Highball Challenge was an exciting journey for me. I drew inspiration from Tommy Dewar’s ‘work & play’ philosophy and his love for chicken to create my ‘Joy & Play’ concept for the event – where friends could gather to enjoy chicken BBQ, Highballs, and games. Since this event was timed before Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I also organised a small gift exchange in the bar, adding to the festive spirit. The event was super fun and memorable, and I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from friends. As I enjoy the victory, I look forward to my upcoming trip to Japan, hoping to rediscover the joy of highballs that excited me during my last visit.” – Kitibordee Gov Chortubtim
About Kitibordee:
Kitibordee, a seasoned professional with nearly two decades of experience in the beverage and hospitality industry, has an insatiable curiosity for flavours. His unwavering passion for exploring various ingredients is reflected in his innovative creations, which he showcases with great skill. Based in both Bangkok and Chiangmai, this talented bartender is known for his dedication to studying food culture. Wherever he goes, whether in Thailand or beyond, Kitibordee makes sure to always use his ventures and experiences to design unique beverages.