NEW YORK – (September 16, 2009 – New York, NY) – On Monday, September 14, The Rose Club at The Plaza Hotel hosted the first Ron Abuelo & Rum Jumbie Mixology Contest. Nine of New York’s top mixologists competed for a chance to win a trip to Miami, Florida to participate in the second and final stage of the contest, held at the Rumbar at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne on October 15, 2009.
The contest gathered the ‘crème de la crème’ of Manhattan’s Bar Chefs, who were tested and challenged by an impressive panel of judges: Daniel Gritzer, Eat Out Editor for Time Out New York, Jennifer Cirillo, Associate Editor for Beverage World, Alexis Jarossy, Assistant Editor for Bar Business Magazine, and Estie Wartenberg for Beverage Media. Hosted at The Rose Club, the luxurious bar and lounge at The legendary Plaza Hotel, the event showcased the exceptional talent and creativity of the contestants, who represented some of New York’s trendiest venues: The Gates, The Brandy Library, B Flat Lounge, Apotheke, and more.
The winner of the contest, Paolo Votano (pictured, right), concocted two mouth-watering libations, using premium dark Panamanian rum, Ron Abuelo Añejo, and St. Maarten’s emblematic flavored rum, Rum Jumbie Splash. A talented Bar Chef, Paolo is also an accomplished entrepreneur. He founded On the Rocks NYC, a cocktail consulting business that creates drink menus for many Manhattan hotspots, including Chelsea’s latest high-class lounge, The Gates.
Paolo will fly down to Miami next month to defend his title against a select group of Miami Bar Chefs and mixologists. The final winner of this competition will receive an all expenses paid trip to Panama to visit the Varela Hermanos distillery and explore this booming country, courtesy of Varela Imports, the importer of Ron Abuelo and Rum Jumbie, and Varela Hermanos, the producer of Ron Abuelo.
Ron Abuelo is produced by Varela Hermanos S.A and imported by Varela Imports, Inc.
Click here for more information about Ron Abuelo and Rum Jumbie
