Spirits importer Classic & Vintage Artisanal Spirits Collection wraps up its cocktail jam road show with a New York City final showdown at Rye House today, May 18. The event, The End of the Road Show, searches for the “most Classic & Vintage cocktail” in each city. Competitors include John Lermayer from Miami; Dante LoPresti from Chicago; Reza Esmaili of San Francisco; and Julian Cox, representing Los Angeles. A New York competitor, as yet unknown, will round out the competition.
Los Angeles’ Drago Centro launched The People’s Cocktail Contest. Placing their summer cocktail list in the hands of the people, Drago Centro invites amateur and professional mixologists to submit original recipes for a shot at making it onto the cocktail menu. The twist: Participants are asked to “tweet” their favorite original cocktail recipes using a secret ingredient for the week. Cocktails will be judged on the name, appearance, aroma, taste, creativity and compatibility with the existing Drago Centro cocktail list. Winners will be announced each Friday via Twitter. The final four are invited to a "mix off" at Drago Centro to ultimately decide “The People’s Cocktail” for the month. First contest started May 17 and goes until Friday, May 21. Check them out on Twitter and join the contest: @DragoCentro.
The Local Irish Pub in Minneapolis marks its fourth consecutive year of selling more Jameson Irish Whiskey than any other bar in the world; its trademark drink, the Big Ginger, helped secure the achievement. The Local sold 775 cases of Jameson in 2009 — roughly 25 bottles every day. “We couldn’t have accomplished this feat without the help from our loyal Irish whiskey drinkers and our signature drink — the Big Ginger," said co-owner Kieran Folliard, referring to The Local’s straightforward Jameson and ginger ale highball, which accounted for 72 percent of 2009's Jameson served.