Wrexham’s own Alex Davies has been crowned the winner of Hickory’s Smokehouse’s annual cocktail competition, earning himself a spot on the Hickory’s drinks menu and a trip to Kentucky – the home of bourbon!
Born and raised in Gwersyllt, 33-year-old Alex Davies has made mum Shelly proud as punch by winning the national prize for his cocktail ‘How Mama Made It’ inspired by the fruit trees he grew up surrounded by in his loving family home in Wrexham.
The former St Joseph’s High School student dived straight into the industry after university, working in some of Wrexham’s best-loved independent bars and restaurants before joining Hickory’s two years ago.
Now Head Bartender at Hickory’s Wrexham, Alex leads an eight-strong bar team serving over 5,000 drinks each week and are recently celebrating Hickory’s new menu which features his very own award-winning cocktail. When he’s not creating cocktails, he’s known for keeping the team buzzing, the bar stocked, and the guests happy – all while inspiring his crew to take pride in the art of great drinks.
Alex’s passion for cocktails began years ago, when he worked under his now-colleague Mark Finley. Together, the pair experimented with flavours, swapped ideas and even travelled across Europe – from Ljubljana and Berlin to London and New York – exploring new trends and discovering what makes a truly memorable drink. It was during his travels in the US that Alex fell in love with bourbon and whiskey-led cocktails.
That passion paid off when Alex went up against 60 bartenders from across Hickory’s 29 restaurants in this year’s national cocktail-making competition, sponsored by Heaven Hill. After three intense rounds, he made it to the final eight at The Whiskey Jar in Manchester, where his creativity, skill and storytelling earned him the top spot.
His winning creation, ‘How Mama Made It,’ is a sweet yet comforting, bourbon-based cocktail inspired by his mum, Shelly, and her apple and blackberry pies. Made with Mellow Corn whiskey, Manzana Verde, homemade purée of blackberry, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon syrup, and a buttery substitute, it’s served in a rocks glass with a skewered blackberry and topped with a mini apple and blackberry pie dusted in cinnamon sugar.
“I wanted to make something that felt like home,” said Alex. “When I was growing up, we had blackberry bushes and an old apple tree in the garden. Mum would make pies that filled the house with the smell of cinnamon and apples. I wanted to capture that feeling and give it a Southern twist with the “Pie on the Porch” concept which brings communities and neighbours together with food and drink – much like Hickory’s does every day.”
Guests have described the drink as ‘like having a slice of pie in a glass’, and it’s already a firm favourite with guests who never thought they’d love bourbon.
The win is extra special for Alex’s mum, Shelly – a much-loved retired youth worker known across Wrexham for her kindness and community spirit. Despite being unwell, she proudly displays Alex’s award certificate at home and tells everyone who visits about her son’s big win.
As part of his prize, Alex’s ‘How Mama Made It’ is featured on the Hickory’s cocktail menu across all their smokehouses, and he’s heading off to Kentucky next week on an enrichment trip to the Heaven Hill Distillery, where he’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at bourbon-making and enjoy a true taste of Southern hospitality.
