Domaine de Canton 2010 Bartender of the Year

Domaine de Canton Names Winner of 2010 Bartender of the Year Competition

On April 26, Domaine de Canton, the world’s first super premium ginger liqueur, crowned the winner of its 2010 Bartender of the Year competition. Consistent with the brand’s French mystique and with last year’s competition, it was again held in picturesque St. Martin, and featured top bar chefs from New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Washington, DC, Boston and Seattle. The two-round competition was hosted at the Radisson Resort and Spa overlooking the Caribbean sea. During the first round, competitors had free reign, and were encouraged to use any technique they wished. They were welcome to bring their own ingredients to augment their cocktails, and had access to many different spirits, as well as a variety of local ingredients. After the first round, judges chose four finalists, and the number of ingredients was limited. The finalists were tasked with using only five ingredients including Domaine de Canton, which was the only spirit allowed.

sean_kenyon.jpgAfter an intense competition, Sean Kenyon of Steuben’s Food Service and Vesta Dipping Grill in Denver, was awarded top honors in the form of a $10,000 prize. His Canton Bittered Flip cocktail was a tasty combination of Domaine de Canton, one ounce of Angostura bitters, Orgeat, a half wheel of orange, and one whole egg. Regarding the Canton Bittered Flip, Sean says, “In the final round I took a huge gamble and decided to make a flip, a 160 year old style of cocktail made with a whole egg. It was an all or nothing chance, and my cocktail was completely different from those of my co-competitors. Domaine de Canton is perfect for flips. The cocktail turned out beautifully; flavorful, aromatic and allowed the Domaine de Canton to shine.”

The first runner-up was Andrew Pollard, bartender of Noir Bar at the Luxor Hotel of Las Vegas. His Opening Act cocktail combined Domaine de Canton with Campari, fresh lime juice, mint and a few dashes of orange bitters, topped with tonic. Second runner-up was Daniel Hyatt of Alembic Bar in San Francisco. Other competitors included third runner-up Debbi Peek of the Bristol in Chicago, Kevin Diedrich of the Clover Club in NYC, Mike Mills of Max Downtown in Hartford, CT, Jay Kuehner of Sambar in Seattle, and Jason Strich of Rasika in Washington, DC.

John Cooper, founder of Domaine de Canton, said, “Each of the contestants did an amazing job demonstrating Domaine de Canton’s versatility. Sean’s talent was clear, and his drink was one of the best Domaine de Canton drinks I’ve tasted.”

The illustrious panel of judges included Xania Woodman, impassioned beverage writer for Las Vegas Weekly; winner of 2009’s competition and creator of one of the most extensive and innovative cocktail menus in Miami. John Lermayer of the Florida Room in Miami; Simon Ford, currently the Director of Brand Education and Trade Outreach for Pernod Ricard USA and recipient of the award for best USA Brand Ambassador at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards 2009 and Best International Brand Ambassador at New Orleans Tales of the Cocktail in 2007; and Ryan Magarian of Portland, Oregon, where he assists in the development of Aviation gin and works with the Viceroy Hotels and Resorts.

A third generation bar man, Sean Kenyon was literally born to be behind a bar. His grandfather and father have been pub owners and bar men in New Jersey since the 1930s. Sean himself first stepped behind the bar at the young age of 15, and has never left. He has a passion for classic cocktails and cocktail history, showing great respect for that history and methodology while finding influences for new creations in modern spirits, ingredients and techniques. He is a bar ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program, and has achieved his 1st level Sommelier Certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Sean has managed bars and cocktail programs in New Jersey, Austin, Texas and currently in Denver, CO at Steuben’s food service and Vesta Dipping Grill.

Click here for more information about Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur

(Image: Sean Kenyon and wife, Heather, courtesy of Denver’s Westword Blog)