Louisville, Ky. (November 5, 2009) – With the recent resurgence of pre-Prohibition bourbon cocktails, the classic Manhattan is making a comeback across the country. Woodford Reserve bourbon and Esquire magazine have searched the country for the nation’s ultimate well-crafted Manhattans and will feature eight “Masters of the Manhattan” on November 9 during The Manhattan Experience Finals in New York City.
Each bartender showcased their own spin on the historic cocktail at events across the country and will present their own well-crafted Manhattan cocktails at the Woodford Reserve/Esquire Magazine Manhattan Experience. The event takes place in New York City on Monday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Esquire Soho, the magazine’s Ultimate Bachelor Pad. There, the bartenders’ creations will be reviewed by a panel of experts, including Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris, Executive Chef Christopher Lee and Mixologist Julie Reiner.
“We have had some wonderful and creative recipes submitted during our search over the past few months, highlighting the complexity and versatility of Woodford Reserve,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “Along with our partners at Esquire, we look forward to showcasing the cocktail craftsmanship of some of the finest mixologists in the country.”
All eight of the recipes will be featured in a Woodford Reserve advertisement in the January edition of Esquire.
To celebrate the spirit of crafting the ultimate cocktail, Esquire magazine’s resident mixologist David Wondrich has developed the Esquire Manhattan featuring Woodford Reserve. The cocktail recipe is as follows:
Esquire Manhattan featuring Woodford Reserve
2 oz. Woodford Reserve bourbon
1 oz. Cinzano red vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash Pernod 68 absinthe
Stir well with plenty of cracked ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and twist a swatch of thin-cut lemon peel over the top.
A limited number of invitations to The Manhattan Experience are available online at www.themanhattanexperience.com. An invitation is necessary and must be presented at the door for admission. All attendees must be at least 21 years of age.