Louis Royer, an iconic Cognac house dating to 1853 and led by the fifth generation of its founding family, today announces the winners of the Third “Show Me the Proof!” High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition held on Dec. 1, 2014. Timothy Miner (The Long Island Bar) won the Grand Prize of an all-expense paid trip to France for two. Second and third place winners were Jason Cousins (Da Claudio) and Gregory Buda (The Dead Rabbit), respectively, with each awarded a cash prize of $1,000.
The competition celebrated Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac, one of the most robust Cognacs on the U.S. market that has been embraced by bartenders and tippling connoisseurs. It was hosted by Hanna Lee Communications, Inc., an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, food, wine, and lifestyle PR and social media marketing.
“We congratulate the winners of the ‘Show Me the Proof!’ competition. Each took a very different approach to creating a cocktail that was delicious to sip and also showcased our ‘Force 53’ Cognac in new and exciting ways,” says Jérôme Royer, Master Selector, Louis Royer Cognac, who is a fifth generation member of the house’s family. “As the enthusiasm for this competition continues to grow, we look forward to saluting future bartenders who will take ‘Force 53’ to new heights.”
“We are very proud that ‘Force 53’ continues to lead the overproof Cognac trend,” says Nicolas Royer, U.S. Brand Ambassador, Louis Royer Cognac, who is a sixth generation family member. “We are providing bartenders with a tool to renew Cognac’s relevance to the cocktail scene and explore a new world of flavors. The competition demonstrates the genuine enthusiasm that bartenders feel about our spirit.”
The final competition was held at Bacchanal, a casual fine dining restaurant on the Bowery. It was judged by spirits/cocktail industry luminaries:
• Dale DeGroff – Legendary mixologist and founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail
• Paul Pacult – Noted spirits critic and publisher/editor of The Spirit Journal
• Steve Olson – Founder of aka wine geek and renowned spirits, wine and cocktail expert
• Jack Robertiello – Widely-respected spirits and cocktail writer
• Jérôme Royer – Louis Royer Cognac’s Master Selector and a fifth-generation family member
• Sother Teague – Bartender at Amor y Amargo and co-winner of the Grand Prize of the second annual “Show Me the Proof!” High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition
• Pamela Wiznitzer – Bartender at The Dead Rabbit and co-winner of the Grand Prize of the second annual “Show Me the Proof!” High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition
“I’m elated to have won the competition’s Grand Prize and to have been considered among these top bartenders,” says Miner. “I visited France as a teenager and it’s been my dream to return there as an adult to experience its spirits and cocktails. Thank you, Louis Royer Cognac, for making my dream come true.”
The cocktail recipe compilation was executed by the competition’s partner, ShakeStir.com, a leading online community of thousands of bartenders and mixologists, which promoted it to its members.
Grand Prize:
The Frenchmen Street Cocktail by Timothy Miner (The Long Island Bar)
2 oz Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac
½ oz Sweet Vermouth
½ oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
1 barspoon White Crème de Cacao
3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Second Place:
Simmer Down by Jason Cousins (Da Claudio)
1 ½ oz Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac
1 oz Antica Distilleria Russo Nocino
½ oz Caffè Borghetti Espresso Liqueur
2 dash Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Bitters
1 piece flamed orange disc, garnish
Third Place:
Orientation by Gregory Buda (The Dead Rabbit)
1 ¾ oz Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac
½ oz Barbadillo Amontillado Sherry
¾ oz orgeat syrup
½ oz lemon juice
3 dash Angostura Bitters
