【2025 Valor Gin Challenge】Xiao Long Bao in a Cocktail? Deep Dive into the Winning Creation: "Fly Back to Yesterday"

In the vast world of gin, "Valor" is more than just a brand name—it is a bold experiment in Taiwanese flavor. The 2025 Valor Gin Challenge, themed "I Love Xiao Long Bao," recently concluded with Hsueh Tsung-Hsi from Midnight Club taking home the championship with his masterpiece, "Fly Back to Yesterday."



How did this competition evolve from a simple idea into a creative sanctuary for Taiwan’s top young bartenders? Let’s start with its origin.

Competition Origins: Why Does Taiwan Need a "Valor Gin Challenge"?

The Valor Gin Challenge was born from Holy Distillery’s obsession with local flavors. Traditionally, gin benchmarks have been defined by the West. However, Holy Distillery firmly believes that Taiwan’s rich terroir—from the mountain Makauy (litsea cubeba) to the salinity of the sea breeze—deserves its own liquid identity.

Now in its fifth year, the competition’s mission goes beyond crowning a winner; it aims to achieve three core visions:

• A Stage for Young Talent: Moving beyond traditional technical drills to make pure creativity the heart of the competition.
• Promoting Local Ingredients: Encouraging bartenders to infuse Taiwanese characteristics into Valor Gin, creating spirits that truly "tell a story."
• From Concept to Market: The winning creation isn't just a trophy—it will be co-released with Holy Distillery as a "Champion Gin," bringing the bartender’s inspiration to the mass market.
  

The 2025 Theme "I Love Xiao Long Bao": Taiwan in a Glass

How do you collide "Taiwanese Taste" with mixology? This year, contestants were invited to taste Din Tai Fung’s classic "18-fold" Xiao Long Bao, deconstructing the delicate layers of meat filling and savory broth. Using Valor Gin as the base, they had to recreate this iconic experience.

Competitors had to capture the "soul" of the dumpling:



• Umami: How to express the sweetness of meat and broth in a glass?
• Balance: How does gin’s botanical profile counter the sharp sting of ginger and rice vinegar?
• Memory: How to evoke the sensory memory of a steaming bamboo steamer from the very first sip?
  

Deep Dive: How "Fly Back to Yesterday" Awakens the Senses

Hsueh Tsung-Hsi of Midnight Club won the judges over with "Fly Back to Yesterday," a liquid recreation of a dining memory shared with his father.

1. From "I Love Xiao Long Bao" to Flavor Language

Inspired by "A Letter to My Father," Hsueh recalled sharing shrimp dumplings and hot tea with his dad. He transformed these ordinary yet precious moments into a flavor profile, infusing the cocktail with deep personal emotion.

2. Valor Gin Ocean Spirits: The Soul of the Story

Hsueh chose "Valor Gin Ocean Spirits" for its sea-breeze notes and bitter orange peel aroma, which perfectly complements the umami of grass shrimp.

The key to this drink’s success was the total experience. It used the characteristics of Valor Gin to turn a private memory into a universal flavor surprise. Renowned judges—including fashion perfumer Anne Scheffer, Soso (Founder of Sidebar), and Allen (Founder of Drizzle by Fourplay)—highly praised the work, with one stating: "This drink could go on a menu for sale immediately!"

A Unanimous Verdict: Limitless Possibilities for Taiwanese Flavor

The Valor Gin Challenge is more than a technical battle; it is a stage for pure imagination. For spirits enthusiasts, it’s an opportunity to rediscover Taiwanese flavors in every drop. With every champion crowned, the map of Taiwanese gin takes another giant leap into the unknown.

Are you a bartender ready to tell Taiwan’s story in a glass? Or a gin lover seeking the "Champion Gin" with a Taiwanese soul? Join the ranks of Valor and experience the magic of Taiwan’s spirit scene.