September 14, 2009, Louisville, Ky. – 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 are teaming up to give at-home mixologists and eligible bartenders the chance to win a trip to New York City as part of the Craft the Ultimate Manhattan Contest beginning this fall.
From September 1 to November 30, eligible consumers are encouraged to submit their own recipe online at www.wellcraftedmanhattan.com. Entries will be judged in the categories of Name, Creativity and Originality, and recipes must include Woodford Reserve bourbon as the primary ingredient. One grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to Manhattan, while second and third place winners will receive prizes from Woodford Reserve and Esquire. Winners will be notified on or about December 21. Official rules are available at www.wellcraftedmanhattan.com.
“Woodford Reserve is a hand-crafted bourbon with exceptional smoothness and is the cornerstone of a well-balanced Manhattan cocktail,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “Along with our partners at Esquire, we look forward to crowning the winner of the Craft the Ultimate Manhattan Contest.”
In addition to the online contest, Woodford Reserve and Esquire will host a series of bartender exhibition events in select U.S. markets in September and October. Bartenders will showcase their own well-crafted Manhattan cocktails during The Manhattan Experience events, and in eligible markets, the bartenders’ creations will be judged by a panel of experts. One finalist from each event in select markets will showcase the area’s winning Manhattan during an exclusive event at Esquire Soho, the magazine’s Ultimate Bachelor Pad, in Manhattan on November 9.
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.