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

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:51:33 GMT

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.

【2025 勇氣琴酒挑戰賽】小籠包也能搭調酒？奪冠作品《飛回昨天》深度解析

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:45:10 GMT

　　在琴酒的廣闊世界裡，「勇氣」不只是一個品牌名稱，更是一場關於台灣風味的實驗。2025 年勇氣琴酒挑戰賽以「我愛小籠包」為題圓滿落幕，由午夜俱樂部薛琮熹的作品《飛回昨天》奪冠。這場比賽如何從一個純粹的念頭，演變成台灣年輕調酒師嚮往的創意殿堂？讓我們從它的緣起說起。

比賽緣起：為什麼我們需要一場屬於台灣的「勇氣琴酒挑戰賽」？

　　勇氣琴酒挑戰賽的誕生，源於主辦單位合力酒廠（Holy Distillery）對在地風味的執著。過去，琴酒的標竿多由西方定義，但合力酒廠深信，台灣豐富的風土從山林的馬告到海風中的鹹味，都應該擁有屬於自己的風味特色。

這場賽事的核心使命，不僅是選拔冠軍，更是為了達成以下三大願景：

打造年輕調酒師的創作舞台： 已邁入第五屆的賽事，致力於打破傳統純技術比拼的框架，讓創意成為競技的核心。
推廣台灣在地原料： 鼓勵調酒師將台灣特色注入勇氣琴酒，創造出真正「會說故事」的台灣風格。
從創意到市場的實踐： 冠軍作品不只是榮耀，更將與合力酒廠聯名推出「冠軍琴酒」，讓調酒師的靈感真正延伸至大眾市場。

2025年主題「我愛小籠包」：台灣味，在杯中重現！

　　如何將「台灣味」與調酒碰撞？本屆挑戰賽邀請調酒師品嘗鼎泰豐經典「黃金18摺」小籠包，感受其細膩肉餡與湯汁的層次，並以勇氣琴酒為基底，創造嶄新的味覺體驗。

參賽者必須精準解構小籠包的靈魂瞬間：

鮮味：肉餡與湯汁的鮮甜如何在杯中表現？
平衡感：琴酒的草本香氣如何對應薑絲與米醋的刺激感？
記憶感：如何讓品飲者在喝下第一口時，腦中浮現那籠熱騰騰的餐桌記憶？

冠軍作品深度解析：《飛回昨天》如何用一杯酒喚醒記憶？

　　午夜俱樂部的薛琮熹以《飛回昨天》獲得本屆冠軍。他透過一杯酒，重現與父親共度的餐桌記憶，讓評審與觀眾深深沉浸其中。這杯作品究竟如何用創意琴酒，將情感轉化為味覺驚喜？是哪一滴配方打造出顛覆想像的層次感？

1. 從「我愛小籠包」出發：餐桌記憶化為風味語言

薛琮熹的靈感源自「寫給父親的一封信」。過去與父親共食小籠包時，總少不了蝦仁小籠包與一杯熱茶，這些平凡卻珍貴的時刻，成為他創作的核心，並透過調酒將思念化為味覺記憶，使作品不只符合主題，更賦予個人情感。

2. 「神聖勇氣琴酒・海」：故事的靈魂基酒

薛琮熹選用「神聖勇氣琴酒・海」，帶有海風氣息與微苦橙皮香，與草蝦鮮味完美呼應。每一元素都緊扣父親的記憶：

　　這杯酒成功的關鍵在於：它不只是味覺，更是一段完整體驗，是透過勇氣琴酒的特性，將一段私人記憶轉化為大家都能感同身受的驚喜風味。

　　評審如時尚香水師 Anne Scheffer、Sidebar 主理人鄭哲宇 Soso，以及 Drizzle by Fourplay 創辦人鄭亦倫 Allen 都給予高度肯定，更直言：「這杯酒可以直接上菜單販售！」

評審一致驚豔：這杯「冠軍琴酒」展現了台灣風味的無限可能

　　勇氣琴酒挑戰賽不僅僅是調酒師之間的技術較量，更是展現純粹創意的舞台；對愛酒人士而言，則是能在每一滴酒液中，一次次重新認識台灣風味的機會。每一屆冠軍的產生，都代表台灣琴酒的風味地圖又向未知領域跨出了一大步。

　　如果你是熱愛創作、想用杯中故事表達台灣味的調酒師，或者你正尋找那支最具台灣靈魂的冠軍琴酒，歡迎加入勇氣的行列，感受屬於台灣琴酒的魅力！

榮獲世界金獎的台灣晨香——神聖勇氣琴酒・桂花烏龍

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:36:37 GMT

把台灣的桂花與烏龍，帶上世界的舞台

有些香氣，是台灣人才懂的幸福。

而當這份幸福被蒸餾進一支琴酒、站上世界舞台、並在眾多品牌中脫穎而出時，那感覺就真的不只驕傲——而是「台灣原來可以被喝見」。

神聖勇氣琴酒・桂花烏龍（Valor Gin Osmanthus Oolong）

於 World Gin Awards 2024 榮獲 Compound Gin Gold 金牌，

成為國際評審眼中兼具特色與技術實力的亮眼作品。

這不是偶然。這是台灣風味被世界認真看見的瞬間。

與調酒師的對談：什麼樣的琴酒會讓人印象深刻？

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:04:56 GMT

琴酒，這個源自歐洲的經典烈酒，隨著時間流轉與地理變遷，逐漸在台灣生根發芽。對於一位調酒師而言，選擇一款能留下深刻印象的琴酒，不只是品味的挑戰，更是對香氣、風味與故事的探索。

一款印象深刻的琴酒，往往擁有層次分明的香氣。杜松子的清新釋放了大自然的氣息，桂花的甜香像午後的陽光灑落在杯緣，微微的橘皮點綴，為舌尖帶來微妙的亮色。烏龍茶的茶韻則在尾韻中緩緩延伸，帶著土地的溫度與回甘的層次感。每一種原料都是故事的載體，它們在蒸餾與浸泡中交織，最終形成一款帶有記憶感的琴酒。

然而，香氣和味道只是表面。真正能讓人印象深刻的琴酒，是能激起情感共鳴的酒。舉杯的一刻，酒液的柔順、香氣的層次，甚至一絲微酸或微甜，都能勾起人對某個時刻、某段旅程的回想。這種「回味中的故事感」，是每位調酒師在創作時追求的核心。

在台灣這片土地上，調酒師們更講究對地道原料的尊重與再創造。調整酒精度，掌控浸泡與蒸餾的節奏，讓每一種香氣能充分表現，又不被掩蓋。這種細膩而有耐心的手法，使每一瓶琴酒不只是飲品，而是一段故事、一種態度、一份勇氣。

對消費者而言，挑選印象深刻的琴酒，其實不必追求名氣或噱頭，而是用心去感受。聞香，感受香氣的層次；啜飲，體會酒液的韻味與尾韻的延展；回味，想像每一滴酒背後的故事。當這些元素在舌尖與心中交融，才能找到那款真正能留下印象的琴酒。

一款好的琴酒，不只是酒精，它是記憶、是情感、是對風味的尊重。每一次舉杯，都是對味覺與心靈的一次小旅行。正如調酒師所說，印象深刻的琴酒，是一種勇氣的表現，也是一種溫柔的藝術。

台灣琴酒與世界琴酒的區別

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:04:55 GMT

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調酒冠軍的靈魂配方，藏在哪一滴琴酒裡？

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:04:54 GMT

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