Vegetarian mixologist impresses with pork-infused cocktail

A vegetarian behind the bar is probably the last person you’d expect to create a pork-infused cocktail. But for Shennel Hunter, the art of mixology knows no limits, and that bold thinking is exactly what earned her the sectional award for most innovative cocktail in the Appleton Estate’s On The Rum bartender competition.

The competition, created as an extension of the brand’s On The Rum campaign, was designed to spotlight the skill, flair, and creativity of bartenders across Jamaica. And in a room full of talent, it was Hunter’s daring concoction – fittingly named Indulgence – that stole the show.

“Mixing is an art form for me,” said the fun-loving and passionate Hunter. “It’s not just ‘a little job’ as many people like to say. It takes a lot of time, energy and effort, and I absolutely love it,” she told Food.

Indulgence is a daring mix: a fat-washed Appleton Estate 8-Year-Old Reserve Rum base, with ginger extract and Angostura bitters, topped with dry champagne and candied bacon.

“I’m a vegetarian, and as such, I don’t even know what the drink tastes like,” she laughed. “I rely on my team at One Park for tastings. I experiment on them,” she added, still laughing.

She explained her process for creating candied bacon: “[It’s] bacon strips that are fried and then I put them in clear syrup. After that, I put them to harden and then I make them into candy.”

Born of Indian descent, Hunter is no stranger to bold flavours. Her culinary curiosity and technical skill already earned her a top-three finish in the Jamaica Bartenders Association competition earlier this year, where she showcased milk clarification techniques. She sees competitions as platforms to push the boundaries of the craft.

“I am always trying new techniques and new things because it’s an art form. It can be elevated and it can be innovating; and that is what I’m here to do,” she shared.

Hunter credits Sharmon Hinds, a respected figure in the local bartending scene, for encouraging her to enter the Appleton Estate competition.

“She encouraged me after seeing me in the previous competition. She said she knows I can do great things and have brilliant ideas. I took that as encouragement coming from someone who’s been mixing for as long as she has.”

Looking ahead, Hunter plans to keep advancing. She’s set to begin Level Two training at the Wray & Nephew Academy, with her sights already set on Level Three and beyond.

“Big things are coming!,” she declared confidently.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com