According to Talesofthecocktail.com, the Rangoon Gin Fizz will make its debut at the Native Spirits Viewing Party on April 21st and will be featured throughout Tales of the Cocktail 2011.
Every year Tales of the Cocktail challenges the international cocktail community to reinterpret one classic cocktail for the chance to be named the festival’s official cocktail. For this year, the challenge was to bring new life to a classic New Orleans cocktail, the Ramos Gin Fizz. Close to 200 bartenders worldwide shook up their own Ramos Gin Fizzes, but the Rangoon Gin Fizz from Atlanta bartender Eric Simpkins was chosen as the winner, and named the Official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail 2011.
The Rangoon Gin Fizz is a take on the original featuring Old Raj gin, lime juice, simple syrup, heavy cream, absinthe, cardamom tincture, Fee Brothers Jasmine water and Fever Tree Lemon Tonic. Simpkins edged out the second place Polynesian Fizz cocktail created by Jonathan Smolensky, Beverage Director at George Ultra Lounge and Brix Restaurant in Vancouver and the third place, Ramos in Rangpur, created by Cameron Bogue, Beverage Director at Earl’s in Vancouver. Cocktail experts including Lu Brow of Café Adelaide, Simon Difford of Diffords Guide, and Audrey Saunders of The Pegu Club judged the cocktails.
“When I first viewed Eric’s recipe for his Rangoon Gin Fizz, I thought each component was a perfect fit. As a New Orleanian, Simpkin’s creation respects the original recipe, which is so important to me. A beautifully exotic cocktail with floral notes that is so inviting that I can’t wait for everyone to experience his cocktail,” said Lu Brow.
The Rangoon Gin Fizz will be served throughout Tales of the Cocktail, held July 20-24. It will also be featured in the summer issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine, and Simpkins will receive a $1,250 cash prize.
