The second annual Ultimate Cocktail Challenge which featured both the Classic Challenge and the Signature challenge, was held in New York City from April 5-8. The Classic Challenge assessed how well spirits perform in classic cocktails, and Signature Challenge evaluated how well entered spirits performed in the proprietary recipes supplied by the brands.
“It’s difficult to be a pioneer in the spirits competition world these days and certaintly there are any number of bartender competitions that name best cocktails but no one in the industry is looking at how brands perform in cocktails the way UCC does,” says UBC founder, F. Paul Pacult. “We saw this as a perfect way to help companies market their brands in a new and innovative manner and ultimately give consumers an excellent tool to help them navigate their retailer store shelves.”
Chairman Trophy Winners in the Classic Cocktail Competition:
BEST GIN in a…
– Aviation – PLYMOUTH
– Extra Dry Martini – BEEFEATER LONDON DRY
– Gin & Tonic – BEEFEATER 24
– Negroni – No. 3 LONDON DRY
BEST VODKA in a…
– Bloody Mary – VESICA
– Cosmopolitan – ABSOLUT CITRON
– Vodka & Tonic – LUKSUSOWA
BEST TEQUILA in a…
– Margarita w/Cointreau – OLMECA PLATA
– Paloma – IZKALI REPOSADO
– Tequila Sunrise – 901 SILVER
BEST RUM in a…
– Daiquiri – BANKS 5 ISLAND
– Mojito – BANKS 5 ISLAND
– Mai Tai – HOLEY DOLLAR SILVER COIN
BEST CACHAÇA in a…
– Batida de Fresa – LEBLON
– Caipirinha – LEBLON
– Caipirinha de Uva – LEBLON
BEST COGNAC/BRANDY in a…
– Brandy Julep – REMY MARTIN VSOP
– Sidecar – CAMUS VS ELEGANCE
– Stinger – CAMUS VSOP ELEGANCE
BEST SCOTCH WHISKY in a…
– Blood & Sand – HIGHLAND PARK 12 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT
– Rob Roy – HIGHLAND PARK 12 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT
– Rusty Nail – THE MACALLAN FINE OAK 10 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT
BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY in a…
– Manhattan – BULLEIT RYE
– Mint Julep – BULLEIT RYE
– Old-Fashioned – GEORGE DICKEL #12
BEST IRISH WHISKEY in a…
– Irish Coffee – JAMESON GOLD BLENDED
– Wild Irish Rose – MICHAEL COLLINS BLENDED
BEST ORANGE LIQUEUR in a…
– Cosmopolitan – COINTREAU
– Margarita – COINTREAU
– Sidecar – COINTREAU
Chairman Trophy Winners in the Signature Cocktails:
GIN
– BEEFEATER 24 – “French 75”
– BEEFEATER LONDON DRY – “French 75”
– HENDRICK’S – “LA Luna”
TEQUILA
– DON JULIO ANEJO – “Don Julio Luxury Cider House”
– FAMILIA CAMERENA REPOSADO – “Camarena Santa Maria”
FLAVORED RUM
– BLACKBEARD SPICED RUM – “Black Bitter & Stirred”
COGNAC/BRANDY
– GRAN DUQUE D’ALBA – “Spanish Sidecar”
– SAMOGAN UNAGED GRAPE SPIRIT – “From Russia With Love”
SCOTCH WHISKY
– GLENFIDDICH 12 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT – “Blood and Sanguinello”
LIQUEURS
– COINTREAU – “Cointreau Cup”
ABSINTHE
– PERNOD ABSINTHE – “Green Beast”
VERMOUTH
– NOILLY PRAT ORIGINAL – “Le Flip, C’est Chic”
OTHER LIQUEURS
– BECHEROVKA HERBAL – “Czech-Up”
– ST-GERMAIN – “The St-Germain Cocktail”
