But they won't be drinking water...

GRANT BRYANT/The Southland Times

SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUE: 42 Below 'vodka professor' Jacob Briars was not afraid of getting his feet wet when it came to mixing the perfect cocktail at Sunshine Bay yesterday.

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One of Queenstown's lesser-known scenic spots will star in the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup, which begins next week.

42 Below "vodka professor" Jacob Briars said the chance to use the Sunshine Bay Reserve boat jetty for one evening in the four-day event was an opportunity he had been waiting for.

"There will be a mystery round taking place here," he said.

"It's drop-dead gorgeous. When you're in Queenstown it's still staggeringly beautiful, but there's still a town around you. What you get here is just empty country and a gorgeous lake, only minutes from town."

Many of the cocktail contestants are from large cities, and the chance for them to take in such sights would be "mind-blowing" Mr Briars said.

Mr Briars arrived in Queenstown yesterday to start setting up for the event, which had been held in the resort town for the past five years. This year the grand final will be held in Wellington.

Seven teams from the United States, France, the UK and Australia will attend.

The teams will arrive in Queenstown on Monday and be taken to the Kawarau Bridge for a bungy jump with AJ Hackett Bungy.

"From then on we want we want contestants and everyone involved in the event to be in a state of high excitement for the entire time they are here," Mr Briars said.

In the past five years the cocktail world cup was held in September. This year the decision to hold it in March came as a considered choice for organisers, he said.

"Queenstown's been really good to us. We always hold the event when Queenstown isn't so busy, so the decision to hold it in March means Queenstown bars should get a little lift."

It also meant the winner of the mystery event would be able to take a plunge into Lake Wakatipu with him, Mr Briars said.

"I know the lake temperature doesn't change that much, but it'll make the swim a lot easier for the winner if they can't see snow on the mountains," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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