Eight Contestants to Compete in the Finals in Puerto Rico
BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com announced today the two finalists of the New Orleans regional semifinal competing for the 2016 Bartender of the Year competition. Mike Henderson of Root Down in Denver won first place and $1,000; Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin in New Orleans won second place and $500.
Eight semifinalists competed regionally Monday, February 29 at Marcello’s Restaurant & Bar in New Orleans. Semifinal bartenders competed in two rounds, first mixing one of their original cocktail entries and then creating three cocktails of the dealers’ choice, using Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, or Rittenhouse Rye Whisky in each cocktail.
National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Head Bartender of Compere Lapin Ricky Gomez, and Glazer’s Distributors State Sales Director – On Premise Phil Cusimano judged the semifinalists’ cocktails and chose two finalists based on highest scores. Cocktails were scored on name, appearance and presentation, inspiration, balance of flavors, aroma and character, while contestants were also scored on creativity, presentation style and product knowledge.
Over 600 original cocktail recipes were submitted online nationwide beginning August 1, 2015. Preliminary entries required two original cocktail recipes, one classic and one innovative, along with a short description of what hospitality means to the contestant. The top two contestants from each regional semifinal will vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at the St. Regis Bahia Resort in Puerto Rico in June 2016. Finalists will be challenged on their full range of skills as hospitality professionals. Judges will be looking for the ultimate bartender who displays the total breadth and aptitude all bartenders aspire to embody.
Grounded in the original Bartender of the Year Competition hosted by Domaine de Canton starting in 2009, Heaven Hill Brands resurrected the competition due to strong demand from bartenders worldwide. Past winners of the competition include John Lermayer, Sean Kenyon and Dennis Gobis.
Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Deep Eddy Vodka; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Hpnotiq Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.
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CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
(502) 413-0217
lcherry@heavenhill.com
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