Cal Ross

Introducing the 'Old Revival' 🔄 House Whisk(e)y Blend ● @rich_coffeeroasters Cascara ● Pimento ● Dry Black Malt ● Revived Raisin Old Revival is an Old Fashioned that transforms cascara (once discarded coffee fruit husk) into rich, cigar, dried-fruit sweetness 🥃 Inspired by Wellington’s culture of reinvention ♻️ Available at @drinkatberts now, come down and try it 📍 Cascara available at @rich_coffeeroasters #cocktailsofinstagram #imbibegram #talesofcocktail #bartender

CALLING ALL NEW ZEALAND BARTENDERS 🇳🇿🍸 Back in 2024, I had the honour of winning the National Scapegrace Uncharted Territories Competition. This year I’m excited to be returning, but this time as a judge. It was genuinely one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. Not only is there a cash prize up for grabs, but the winner will also join me and the Scapegrace team in Queenstown for what I can only describe as the trip of a lifetime. To enter, you’ll need to create an original cocktail that truly represents the whisky you choose to work with: Scapegrace Vanguard or Scapegrace Anthem Single Malt Whisky. YOUR INSPIRATION This is an open-style competition guided by your own interpretation of the spirit. Your inspiration might come from the name, the Scapegrace ethos, the landscape of Central Otago, or the whisky’s flavour profile itself. Wherever it begins, the key is to connect the dots, bringing it all together through a clear, engaging, and confident story that reflects both the product and your understanding of the brand. I can’t wait to see what the incredible bartending talent across Aotearoa comes up with. Good luck! 🥃 @scapegrace

Southern Current is an odyssey to the sparkling waters surrounding New Zealand. Single malt vodka is masterfully mixed with bergamot, mineral water charged with CO2 and roasted hōjicha tea with a delicate blend of sea salt and whisky-infused Mānuka Honey to create a foam that lingers like ocean spray.

This note of thanks may be a little overdue, but the gratitude is as strong as ever. 🙏 I’m incredibly honoured to have represented Aotearoa 🇳🇿 at the 2025 Jameson Global Summit, an unforgettable gathering of passionate, talented, and inspiring individuals from across the world. 🌎 To the organisers @jamesonhosts , @tonytobrien , and every person who made this opportunity possible. Thank you for creating such a meaningful space to share ideas, challenge perspectives, and grow together. The way you welcomed us and created space for real conversations and shared goals really meant a lot. A huge congratulations again to the winners @mattsmithysmith , @stefan.david_codrea , @afro_kj fully deserved.  Feeling deeply thankful, full of hope, and more inspired than ever. 🌱✨ #JamesonGlobalSummit2025

Every sip layered with the flavours of a bustling hive, have you ever experienced this level of craft in a cocktail? Alive, aromatic and full of energy.

Southern Hive is a golden-hued reflection of nature’s precision by Cal Ross. This bright, layered cocktail blends bee pollen-infused sake, native Tarata distillate, Yuzu juice and The Southerly, who’s joining us at Panacea?

@delmagueymezcal expierence! Oaxaca has a way of reminding us what authenticity truly means. This trip wasn’t just about mezcal or hospitality — it was about people, culture, and the power of sharing something real. Experiences like this are what turn a brand into a memory, and a memory into a story worth telling. Grateful for every moment lived here 📸 @119cd_ @tachapop .

🇲🇽 Life-changing isn’t a term I use lightly, but this trip truly was 🇲🇽 A huge thank you to @delmagueymezcal for creating such an unforgettable experience. Never did I imagine that entering a cocktail competition would take me all the way to Mexico, and I feel incredibly fortunate. 🫶 Oaxaca has become one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited. There’s something almost sacred about witnessing mezcal being made here. Of course, I expected the mezcal and food to be world class but what struck me most was the genuine hospitality. In Mexico City, the standard is being set with some of the best bars in the world, where drinks are elevated to the highest level. But in Oaxaca, the locals open their homes, share their food, press tortillas fresh before your eyes, and make you feel like family. That’s something I’ll never forget. I was also lucky enough to share this adventure with some amazing humans, it was such a pleasure to meet each and every one of you, and I look forward to when our paths cross again. And finally, an extra special thank you to @albachtens you were the host with the most 🕺 #delmaguey #oaxaca

Last few days left to NOMINATE ✨⏳ Thank you to our 2025 Outstanding Bartender sponsor @hancocksnz Our 2024 winner was @drinkscal of @we_are_panacea Who will win this year? . . . #Aucklandhospitality #hospoawards #Lewishamawards #lewishamawardsponsors #aucklandevents #LewishamAwards #aucklandhospo #whatsonauckland #hospolifenz #FoodieFiesta #hospohero #lewishamawards #CelebrateExcellence #AucklandHospitality #OutstandingHospoHero #restaurantassociationnz #SupportLocal #aucklandestablishment #aucklandhospitality #nzhospo #2025lewishamawards #aklhospo #hospolife #hospo #nzhospitality #Hospo #awards #2025hospoawards #timetravellersball

🥇 1ST PLACE 🥇 Del Maguey Trans-Tasmin Competition 2024 Introducing the ‘De La Tierra’ (From the Earth) 🌏 -          @delmagueymezcal Vida -          Rhubarb -          Calvados -          Lime Acids -          Orris Root -          Clarified Whey -          Rose Water Growing up in England, my mum would grow rhubarb in the garden, in which we would simply pull out the ground when ready, cut the end off, and dip it in sugar before eating fresh 🏡 I was at an Agave training the other day where I learned that in Mexican culture, there's a beautiful tradition where agaves are planted when a child is born. This symbolizes the growth and strength of family ties, rooted deeply in the land. This practice resonates with my own experiences and the universal truth that our connection to the earth and our families are intertwined. Incorporating Del Maguey Vida into this cocktail not only elevates the flavour but also strengthens the narrative of familial bonds and the nurturing power of the land A delicate rose water rinse graces the glass, imparting a gentle, aromatic finish. This floral hint adds a subtle nod to English gardens 🌹 De La Tierra is a tribute to the importance of soil, land, and family. From the lush gardens of England to the agave fields of Oaxaca. The ingredients work in harmony to tell a story of heritage, growth, and the nurturing power of family 👩‍👧‍👧 📷 @pmcreatives

Introducing the ‘Taniwha’ 🌿 -          @scapegrace Black ⬛️ -          Charred Horopito -          Blackberry -          @mtdifficulty Syrah -          Black Sands -          Flapjack Seaweed This challenge was hard for me, through this process, I became acutely aware of how much I have yet to explore this beautiful country I now call home. The rugged terrains of the West Coast, the mystical fjords, and the rich Māori legends are all chapters of Aotearoa’s story that I have only just begun to read. Māori legend has it that the Fiordland, with all its beauty was said to be guarded by Taniwha, mythical water creatures of great power and guardianship, the Taniwha were believed to dwell in the deepest waters of the fjords, protecting the land and its treasures. The charred horopito reflects the fiery nature of the Taniwha, despite Horopito being a very ‘NZ’ centric botanical, Horopito grows particularly in abundance in the west of New Zealand, while incorporating the black sand and flapjack seaweed into Taniwha not only adds minerality and deepens the cocktail’s flavour but also connects the drinker to the rugged coastal beauty of west New Zealand. The 'Taniwha': A tribute to the dramatic cliffs, the misty fjords, volcanic earth, and Māori legends that define Fiordland, an area rich in natural beauty and cultural lore. This is my entry for the Scapegrace Uncharted Spirits competition 2024 🍸🌿 Thank you to @witehirawiri for fact checking all my research 🙏 Thank you to @corbanjakefisher for vaping for the shoot 💨 Thank you to @hullo_michael_drinking from @144islands for the flapjack extract 📷 @pmcreatives

In typical fashion, I'm pretty late to the party on this one... I just wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who voted, I am honored & humbled that I was voted for Outstanding Bartender this year 🍸 @we_are_panacea winning Outstanding Innovation is particularly exciting, as this is the first time a bar has won this category & helps us to continue to change the game, plus no one deserves this award more then @danychaikeith Thank you for believing in us and for being a part of our journey Thank you to the @lewishamawards for hosting another quality event 🙌🕺 Auckland hospitality has been kind to me since I arrived in New Zealand just under 5 years ago, I can't wait to continue to give back. 📷 @thehospoguynz