The Legacy of the Cocktail New York Showcase, hosted by the United States Bartenders Guild on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Copacabana in New York challenged 14 of New York’s top contemporary bartenders and mixologists to create an original version of a “New Rum Legacy Cocktail.” Sponsored by Bacardi Rums, the annual competition pays tribute to the Bacardi heritage in search of the next cocktail to join such classics as the Bacardi Daiquiri and Bacardi Mojito. Competitors were tasked to showcase the versatility of Bacardi Superior Rum—the original, mixable light-bodied clear rum.
The New York finalists were Lynnette Marrero of Peels, who created the “Harlem Honey Bee,” Shingo Gokan of Angel’s Share, who created the “Speak Low,” and Raphael Reyes of 1534, who created the “El Capitan.”
The judging panel was made up of Dale DeGroff, aka “King Cocktail,” Brian Matthys, the 2010 Bacardi Legacy of the Cocktail New York finalist and mixologist at Compose, James Menite of the United States Bartenders Guild, and Don Lee of Cocktail Kingdom.
Bartenders were judged on technical skills and presentation, appearance, aroma, balance of flavors, appeal of character, ingenuity and innovation, degree of refreshment and inspiration, and story behind the recipe. All participants were required to use rum as the base spirit, and each recipe was required to use seven ingredients.
