A liquor distributor’s challenge to bartenders has resulted in an award-winning new cocktail courtesy of a sector veteran.

Zane Stowe, a bartender for more than 20 years, whipped up a drink he called Raspberry Breeze for the April contest from Burrows Lightbourn Ltd.

Servers were called on to concoct “creative and exciting cocktails” from products out of the distributor’s portfolio.

Mr Stowe, of Harbourfront, melded raspberry rum with crème de cassis, pineapple juice and lime juice.

It came against a backdrop of Thirst Bermuda, a campaign for the island’s first cocktail month that inspired eight events and partnered with more than 20 bars and restaurants.

Mr Stowe worked with drinks on Harbourfront’s menu, coming up with the Harbour Blue Cosmo, a variation of the red cosmo, along with the Golden Mystique, a cocktail consisting of Bacardi Spiced Rum, apple juice, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur and Amaretto, before coming up with the winning drink.

He said that the drinks were inspired by the harbourside location and ocean view, with practicality in mind.

“I was surprised when I learnt that one of my cocktails had won as I hadn’t entered to win but instead to enhance customers’ experience,” he said.

“I have always been encouraged here at Harbourfront to push the envelope and come up with new creative offerings for guests.”

He received an award from Burrows Lightbourn for winning the best tasting Bacardi-based cocktail during the campaign.

Mr Stowe got an invitation for up to eight people to the Bermuda Carnival headline event, Glow, on Sunday in Queen Elizabeth Park during Heroes Day weekend.

The campaign also had awards for Best Overall Cocktail, Most Sustainable Cocktail, Best Locally Sourced Cocktail, Best Social-Media Presence, Best Diageo Cocktail and People’s Choice.