ANGOSTURA™ AROMATIC BITTERS TOAST NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTIVITES AT ANGOSTURA COCKTAIL CHALLENGE
Three winners will go on to compete at Global Cocktail Challenge in Trinidad
MT. PROSPECT, Ill., October 13, 2011 – Mizkan Americas, the exclusive North American distributor of Angostura Aromatic Bitters, hosted an event in Chicago to announce the winners of the 2011 Angostura Bitters North American Cocktail Challenge. Finalists showcased their fine craft of mixing cocktails with their very own innovative and original recipes. Three lucky winners walked away with the $5,000 cash prize and a trip to Trinidad to represent North America in the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge in February 2012, where the winner will take away an additional $10,000.
Mixologists and bartenders from across the US and Canada were invited to submit two unique cocktail creations – one with Angostura aromatic bitters and rum, and another with Angostura aromatic bitters and the liquor of their own choice. From those submissions, seven finalists were chosen to complete live to create their
two cocktail recipe submissions in under seven minutes. Each finalist was judged in multiple categories, including taste, creativity and presentation. The top three winners in these categories included:
• Ryan Maybee from The Rieger Hotel in Kansas City, MO
• Rachel Ford from Empellon in New York, NY
• David Delaney Jr. from Still& Stir in Worcester, MA
Event guests sipped on a selection of cocktails from each of the seven finalists in the backdrop of the Victor Hotel, a west loop lounge renovated from an old freezer building that is now designed to look like a contemporary European hotel lobby. Guests cheered as each finalist had their shot at mixing their cocktails with a clock counting down from their seven minute time limit. Each finalists’ performance and cocktail was reviewed by a judging panel that included Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998 and Angostura aromatic bitters Brand Ambassador; Jackie Foley, Vice President of Bartender Magazine; and Jennifer Contraveos, Angostura aromatic
bitters US Brand Ambassador.
Mizkan Americas and Angostura aromatic bitters congratulate this year’s North American Cocktail Challenge winners and runner-ups.
Winning Cocktails
• David Delaney Jr. from Still& Stir in Worcester, MA
o Cocktails: Five Island Fizz and On Second Thought
• Rachel Ford from Empellon in New York, NY
o Cocktails: Johann’s Ruin and Seventeenth Century
• Ryan Maybee from The Rieger Hotel in Kansas City, MO
o Cocktails: Ward & Precinct and Exploration Cocktail
Runner-ups
• Jason Cevallos from The Aviary in Chicago,IL
o Cocktails: Horchata and Peach
• Matthew Tiddes from McCormick & Schmick’s in Chicago, IL
o Cocktails: Ron Bailarin and The Conquistador
• Lauren Mote from Kale & Nori in Vancouver, BC
o Cocktails: Red Punch and Yuzu Bastard
• Ezra Star from Drink in Boston, MA
o Cocktails: The Little Red Lion and Bolivar Flip
About Mizkan Americas
Mizkan Americas is a subsidiary of Mizkan Group and has a heritage in the condiment business that spans over 200 years. The company is a leading manufacturer of condiments in the United States with 14 manufacturing plants that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty, Asian and food ingredient trade channels. Since 2005, Mizkan Americas has seen dramatic growth due to the acquisition of Holland House® cooking wines, the Specialty Division of Imperial Brands Inc. and World Harbors Sauces & Marinades. Mizkan Americas produces a wide variety of vinegars, mustards, cooking wines, wine reductions, sushi seasoning, marinades, jellies, salad dressings, Asian sauces and other liquid condiments. Mizkan Brands include NAKANO®, Four Monks®, Barengo® and Mitsukan®. For more information about Mizkan Americas, please visit www.mizkan.com.
About The Mizkan Group
The Mizkan Group, a global food manufacturer, is the parent company of Mizkan Americas, Inc. The Mizkan Group is a 200-year old privately held international food manufacturer, based in Handa City, Japan. The Mizkan Group has a stable of well-known international brands, under the “mizkan” umbrella brand and is a leader in the liquid condiment category. The Mizkan Group has operating facilities around the globe, including Japan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong & Taiwan.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Betsy Alandt
(312) 255 -3124
Betsy.Alandt@hillandknowlton.com
Beth Florina
(312) 255-3074
Beth.Florina@hillandknowlton.com
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