12 Finalists of the First-Ever "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition Announced

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanna Lee Communications, an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, food, wine, and lifestyle PR and event management, today announced the 12 finalists of the first annual "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition for professional bartenders and mixologists.  The competition, hosted by Hanna Lee Communications and the first of its kind, spotlights the seasonal mixability of Louis Royer "Force 53" VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac, one of the highest proof Cognacs in the U.S. market today.  More than 100 recipes celebrating the four seasons were received via ShakeStir.com from bartenders and mixologists from across the U.S.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120913/FL74040 )

The 12 finalists include:  Brad Farran (Clover Club/Death & Co., NYC); Claire Sprouse (Rickhouse, San Francisco); Franky Marshall (The Tippler/Monkey Bar, NYC); Ivan Radulovic, (Macao Trading Co., NYC); Jeff Bell (PDT, NYC); Joe Campanale (Anfora/dell'anima/L'Artusi/ L'Apicio, NYC); Liz Pearce (The Drawing Room, Chicago); Lynnette Marrero (Astor Room, NYC); Pam Wiznitzer (L'oubli/The Dead Rabbit, NYC); Sother Teague (Amor y Amargo/Booker & Dax, NYC); Theo Lieberman (Lantern's Keep/Milk and Honey, NYC); and, Tim Cooper (GoldBar, NYC).

The competition will culminate on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, when the finalists will each demonstrate their cocktail at a finale event at Rayuela Restaurant in New York City.  The judging panel is Dale DeGroff ("King Cocktail"), the legendary master mixologist and reviver of the craft cocktail; Paul Pacult, the noted spirits critic and writer; Steve Olson, founder of aka wine geek and an accomplished spirits expert/educator; Jack Robertiello, a widely-respected spirits and cocktail writer; Carrie Keagan, host of VH1's Big Morning Buzz and cocktail enthusiast; and, Louis Royer Cognac's Master Selector Jerome Royer, a fifth-generation Royer family member.

"With 'Force 53,' Louis Royer Cognac has firmly placed itself at the forefront of the high proof spirits trend," said Philippe Pichetto, Marketing Director, Louis Royer Cognac.  "This robust yet elegant spirit allows bartenders to more accurately recreate legendary Cognac cocktails from the past and inspire a whole new generation of classics.  High proof spirits are here to stay as part of the modern bartender's expanded repertoire of liquors behind the bar."

The competition's Grand Prize includes a one-week, educational trip to France for the winner and a guest to visit Louis Royer Cognac's cellars in Jarnac and experience the 16^th Fete du Cognac Festival, as well as two nights in Paris.  Second and third place winners will each win a cash prize of $1,000.

"The notion of Cognac as something to sip during the winter apres ski or in front of a roaring fireplace is lovely, but limits the spirit's year-round tippling potential," said Hanna Lee, president and founder, Hanna Lee Communications.  "The recipes submitted to the competition pay homage to the spirit's wintery heritage and expand the possibilities of spring, summer and fall imbibing."

About Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, Hanna Lee Communications, Inc. is an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, wine, food, travel, and lifestyle PR and event management.  The agency only represents products and companies that it is passionate about.  This outlook drives its well-acknowledged excellence. 

The agency has earned recognition from prestigious national and international organizations that include the PRWeek Awards, SABRE Awards, PRSA-NY's Big Apple Awards, The Communicator Awards, PR News' Platinum Awards and The Bulldog Awards.  In addition, through its multi-year PR campaign for Mionetto Wines, Hanna Lee Communications contributed to developing the now popular Prosecco category in the U.S. 

Client experience includes Louis Royer Cognac, Santa Teresa Rum, Manhattan Cocktail Classic, Leblon Cachaca, Sobieski Vodka, Marie Brizard Liqueurs, Terra Andina Chilean Wines, G7 Portuguese Wine Consortium, Bortolomiol Prosecco, Quimeria Think Group (Rayuela, Macondo and Barraca), San Domenico New York (now SD26), Michael's New York, MONO+MONO, Gourmet Latino Festival and others.  For more information, please visit www.hannaleecommunications.com.  The agency can be followed on Twitter at @hannaleenyc and "liked" on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HannaLeeCommunications.

Media Contacts:

Hanna Lee or Jen Neugeboren
Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.
212-527-9969 (office) / 646-752-1526 (cell)
[email protected]
[email protected]

SOURCE Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.