Paramount hosts first forum of many

Paramount Liquor hosted its first Future Proof forum event this week with around 250 hot and thirsty hospitality professionals making their way to one of the many drinks suppliers on hand at The Calyx on Monday night.

Directors Nathan and Leigh Rowe had made the trip from Melbourne with dad, Mark, for the event and trade had been bussed down from as far as Newcastle.

Nathan Rowe said that Paramount intends to run the Future Proof forums every six months with plans for the next to be held in Brisbane. He said the events are intended as an opportunity to bring the trade together to discuss important issues facing the sector as well as being a way to foster a community.

Paramount's Evolution Marketing partners across beer, wine, spirits, and mixers took part in the event. Accolade Wines, Bacardi Martini Australia, Brown-Forman, Campari, Craft Revolution, Carlton & United Breweries, CUB Premium Beverages, Diageo, Fermentum, Moet Hennessy, Proof & Co, Proximo, Red Bull, Sam Smith & Sons, Southtrade, Treasury Wine Estates and William Grant & Sons all showcased one or two key.

The shady gardens were the perfect setting to talk sustainability and for guests to vote on the flavour of the year. Strawberry Gum as it turned out. Alex Boon - Award winning bartender and owner/operator of Pearl Diver in Melbourne created a special cocktail working with Curatif and combining Bombay Citron Pressé Gin, Rhubi Mistelle, strawberry gum, vanilla, jasmine, lemon and soda.

Strawberry Gum is an abundant native tree abundant in the Nothern Tablelands of Australia. Pollen Hospitality's Evan Stroeve - who is set to open his own venue later this year - talked about the rise of indigenous ingredients in the Australian bar scene and the importance of ensuring that purchases are made from reliable suppliers so that the money makes its way to indigenous communities.

He recommended Supply Nation as a good place to start.

The Paramount team worked together to ensure all ingredients were ethically sourced ensuring those who produce these top-quality products reap the benefits.

Alex Boon noted “It's been a very exciting process so far working with strawberry gum as Paramount’s ‘Flavour of the Year’. It's a very versatile ingredient that leaves the door wide open to interesting ways you can work with it. What I wanted to create was an approachable and refreshing long drink that was bright and packed full of flavour with strawberry gum at the helm. I took inspiration from baking recipes that used strawberry gum and rhubarb as the key ingredients and away we went.”

Three panels were presented through the evening hosted by Sam Bygrave: Future Flavours, Future Proof Our Industry and Future Proof Your Career didn’t disappoint. Participants included Alex Boon from Pearl Diver, Evan Stroeve from Pollen Hospitality, Maybe Sammy’s Sarah Proietti, Mariella Menato of Denomination Design and Darren Leaney from Worksmith.

Proof & Co's Eco-spirits were on display with the growth of its partnerships now including Never Never Distilling Co, Plantation Rum (from Vanguard), Los Arcos and Widges. Fever-Tree were also on site with sharing samples of the expanding flavour profiles of the prem mixer which has ventured into cola and clementine orange.