
Reece Sims
Year 3 winner.
Vancouver, BC
Reece Sims is a whisk(e)y expert who is passionate about educating enthusiasts using creative design to visualize tasting cues. As a former award-winning bartender (including Mionetto Canada’s Cocktail Competition 2020), Reece has studied the art of mixology as well as travelled around the world to complete a number of certifications including WSET3, the Executive Bourbon Stewardship Certification, and Irish Distilling Academy courses (to name a few). In 2016, she founded Whiskey Muse as a way to make learning, drinking, and cocktailing with whisk(e)y approachable. In addition, she writes for publications like TASTE Magazine and Relish & Whisky Magazine, and started the SIP&Share Whisk(e)y Sessions in 2022 to offer consumers, bartenders, and spirits brands a way to engage thoughtfully on a deep level through sensory insight programs and tastings.

Lukas Gabriel
Mionetto. Country Manager – Canada
Ciao Mionetto lovers! I am Lukas and in the lucky spot to make a living out of what I love: wine and spirits! Being the country manager for Canada is more than a job. It is about passion for products, brands and the people behind them – and about celebrating life!
Adrian Roque
Year 2 winner.
Calgary, AB

Cedrick Foley
Year 1 winner.
Ottawa, ON
G’day! I’m Cedrick Foley. Ottawa, Ontario born and raised but I spend a 10 year stint in the Canadian west learning and mastering the art of the cocktail alongside some of the industries best and brightest. I’ve competed in many competitions across Canada and am pleased and excited to be on the Mionetto Canada judges panel once more for the 5th annual Mionetto Cocktail Competition. As of late, you can find me at Top Shelf Distillers, in Perth, Ontario where I am the resident cocktail specialist and events manager. I spend most of my days designing new recipes and curating educational content, including our “Top Shelf’s Guide To Cocktailing” 12 month subscription program. After 20+ years in hospitality, I am continually excited and intrigued by new trends and creative flavour combinations that stimulate the palate, and the mind. In my opinion, if you want to live a rich and happy life, surround yourself with good food, good drink and good people. It’s the only way, the “bon vivant” way.

Nicholas Tzaferis
Year 4 winner.
Kelowna, BC
My name is Nicholas Tzaferis, winner of the fourth annual Mionetto cocktail competition.
Originally from Montreal QC, I moved to Kelowna BC to be part of an expanding cocktail scene in a city with a rapidly growing population, where I now manage a bar with the largest agave selection in BC.
Being in the industry for almost 20 years, I’ve really grown to appreciate the concept of treating cocktail creation as an entire experience. Living in the Okanagan Valley, it’s really accessible to incorporate seasonal and fresh ingredients with drink curations. Telling a story through cocktails starts from the bones of spirit, to the final statement of the garnish. Whether it be nostalgic flavors to something progressive & technical – it has to stay true to what I put in the glass.
The best part about working in this industry is the social element; getting to know the person on the other side of the wood and providing them something fit to their liking based on conversation & engagement. That’s the real good good right there!
I can’t wait to see what the competitors of this year’s Mionetto competition has to offer and what stories they can tell with their creativity. Good luck, everyone!
Looking for inspiration?
Check out last year’s finalists, and the drinks they submitted.
Wrong Sbagliatto
The Wrong Sbagliato is an aperitivo created from the combination of two classic cocktails: the Negroni Sbagliato and the Breakfast Martini. We have the Campari and the Prosecco that comes from the Sbagliato and the orange marmalade that comes from the Breakfast Martini. Campari has been infused with rhubarb to...

First Light
The inspiration for my cocktail is the sunshine that blankets the southeast facing vineyards of the Valdobbiadene in the morning. That early morning light is essential in producing some of the finest Glera grapes. I wanted to complement the aromas and palate of Mionetto, and transport the imbiber to a...

Bella Pizzelle
Once again a cocktail ode to my childhood at my nonnas house. The love of Italian treats and Italian sparkling. I wanted this drink to show the versatility of Prosecco and this is my happy interpretation of that. A light airy drink that has been made with love. The cocktail...

Cast Strength
I wanted to use the natural sweet fragrance and flavours from the apricots by quick infusing them into Soju with cream chargers. Soju has quite a unique flavour that I wanted to elevate. I find the funkiness in soju an amazing pairing to the dry stone fruit notes in the...

Frutti Di Bosco
The inspiration for the Frutti Di Bosco cocktail came from Italian Gelato. Frutti di Bosco is the actual name of one of the sorbet ice cream flavors they make by hand in Italy and I wanted to create the cocktail version by making my own fruit blend using only fresh...

Madama Butterfly
The second I saw the cherries in the mystery basket my mind went to cherry blossoms which then lead to a (quick) daydream about Japan. I wanted the cherries to bring together my love for Japanese and Italian ingredients. By using common Japanese flavours such as shiso, sake and yuzu...

L’aventure de Mionetto
Ode à l'amour et à la passion qu'avait Francesco Mionetto pour la nature et la terre. Imaginez maintenant Mionetto débarquer sur les terres gaspésiennes. Un délicieux voyage entre mer et montagne. An ode to Francesco Mionetto's love and passion for the land. Imagine Mionetto arriving on Gaspesian lands. A delicious...

Mionetto, Amour et Passion
Puisque Mionetto est d’abord et avant tout une histoire d’amour et de passion, je me suis inspirer d’une histoire d’amour pour créer mon cocktail. On commence en douceur avec la gelée de pomme et le nectar de poire, qui, les deux rappellent les notes de fruits à chaire blanche du...

Mionetto Delight
Having presented the day after my mother's birthday, it was only fitting that I get my inspiration from her. One of the mystery ingredients being apricot jam, reminded me of my favourite holiday cookies that she would bake for me as a child. The cookies would consist of nuts, dried...

Mionetto Tickler
My cocktail is imagined as a progression from my previous submission, The Golden Pentagon. After a lovely sunset aperitif, the Mionetto Tickler offers spicy complexity that is bold enough to be enjoyed with the primi or secondi courses. The notes of cinnamon, cardamom & chili in the Mangalore provide a...
