Behind Cecelia Crook’s La Altura, the Cocktail That Won the Kimpton Hotels x Singani 63 Competition at Tales of the Cocktail 2025

At this year’s Tales of the Cocktail, Kimpton Hotels and Singani 63 teamed up for a cocktail competition that highlighted some of the country’s most creative bartenders.

Taking home the win was Cecelia Crook, Lead Bartender at Merchant & Trade inside The Tyron Park Hotel in Charlotte, NC.

Her standout creation, La Altura, impressed judges with its bright, layered flavors and elegant balance. Built on the floral, aromatic base of Singani 63, the cocktail blends yuzu, paw paw cream, and honeysuckle water for a refreshing yet complex profile, finished with a crisp Topo Chico topper for effervescence. See below for the winning cocktail recipe as well as Cecelia’s inspiration!

I was inspired by the classic Bolivian Tumbo cocktail which is a blend of Singani, sweetened condensed milk and tumbo fruit (flavor described as a mixture of banana and passionfruit). The Tumbo cocktail is served blended with no ice. The serve of the drink immediately reminded me of a Ramos Fizz, which I thought would showcase the floral and tropical qualities of Singani beautifully. I also was reminded of a local Appalachian mountain fruit called Paw Paw, which is described as having a banana/passionfruit profile, similar to the Bolivian tumbo fruit. 

I was inspired to make an Appalachian version of the Tumbo cocktail, with a nod to New Orleans via the Ramos. I wanted to highlight all of the delicate aromas and flavors of Singani including the tropical, floral and citrus notes. I made my own Honeysuckle Flower Water using foraged petals and a DIY method of vapor distillation from an old episode of Good Eats with Alton Brown. I infused my cream with the Paw Paw fruit pulp from Asheville (delicious for an ice cream base). I made a simple yuzu syrup which compliments the flavor profile of Singani. I used yuzu juice instead of a lemon lime mixture because I think it is a more delicate and brighter kind of citrus for this application. — Cecilia Crook

The post Behind Cecelia Crook’s La Altura, the Cocktail That Won the Kimpton Hotels x Singani 63 Competition at Tales of the Cocktail 2025 appeared first on Chilled Magazine.