A PENARTH cocktail mixologist is celebrating after being recognised by a highly prestigious and respected industry bible.

Josh Powell, 23, has been chosen to feature in the diffordsguide article ‘30 of the best cocktails invented since 2000’ at number five.

Josh, who has been a bartender for five years and is head mixologist at Bar 44 in Penarth, a cocktail bar and tapas restaurant, was selected for his seasonal special ‘Christmas Pudding Martini.’

The diffordsguide is a highly respected brand and was first established in 2001. Since being created, diffordsguide has developed a website for discerning drinkers, created a magazine, and developed several guide books with ‘diffordguide cocktails’ being the most well-known in the industry.

Josh’s Martini involved a combination of Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Honeyed Bourbon, Cointreau, milk and Nutmeg.

Adding to his success, Josh also recently won a competition where he was awarded a £1000 cash prize and had his cocktail added to the menu in Grosvenor – G Casino, Reading.

During his time at Bar 44, he has created and implemented a number of successful cocktails. He is currently working on a new batch of creations, involving a strong Spanish flavour, using a variety of Sherries, Spanish wines and Spanish produce – all specialities at Bar 44.

Josh said: “I’m delighted to have had one of my cocktails selected to feature in the diffordsguide article. Any material created by diffordsguide is considered part of a mixologist’s bible so to be included, and as the number five cocktail, is an incredible honour – one that most mixologists only dream of.

“At Bar 44, I take great pleasure in devising new cocktails, especially as I can be creative here, and always look forward to customers trying new things. People can always come here and experience a drink they will not find elsewhere.”

Tom Morgan, Co-founder of Bar 44 said: “Josh is a fantastic mixologist and these latest achievements go to prove this. His drinks are proving to be very popular with customers and he’s also managed to include tapas ingredients, such as his Chorizo infused Old Fashioned. We’re looking forward to trying more of his innovative creations, which blend perfectly with our food offering at Bar 44.”

Bar 44 in Cowbridge was established in 2002 due to the Morgan brothers love for Spanish food and produce, having holidayed there as a family. The success of the Cowbridge restaurant led the brothers to open their second restaurant in Penarth in 2012. Most recently, the brothers launched a mobile tapas kitchen in order to target the growing street food culture.

The restaurants have also received UK-wide recognition from the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2013 and Bar 44 in Cowbridge has recently been included in The Sunday Times Food List Cheap Eats