Louis Royer Cognac Announces Grand Prize Winner of Its 4th "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition: Gregory Buda (The Dead Rabbit, NYC)
Dustin Olson (Holiday Cocktail Lounge, NYC) and David Nurmi (Porchlight, NYC) Win Second and Third Places Respectively in Competition That Celebrates Louis Royer "Force 53" VSOP Cognac
NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Louis Royer, an iconic Cognac house dating to 1853 and led by the fifth generation of its founding family, today announces the winners of the 4th "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition. Gregory Buda (The Dead Rabbit, NYC) won the Grand Prize of an all-expense paid trip to France for two. Second and third place winners were Dustin Olson (Holiday Cocktail Lounge, NYC) and David Nurmi (Porchlight, NYC), respectively, with each awarded a $1,000.00 cash prize.
The competition celebrates Louis Royer "Force 53" VSOP Cognac, a pioneer of the overproof Cognac trend and a spirit that has found an enthusiastic home in the bartending community. It was hosted by Hanna Lee Communications, Inc., an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, food, wine, and lifestyle PR, event management and social media marketing.
Buda's winning cocktail, The Book of Matthew, melded Louis Royer "Force 53" VSOP Cognac, Pineau des Charentes, lemon juice, fig cordial and Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters.
"We are delighted that the competition has resonated so deeply with the bartending community," says Nicolas Royer, U.S. Brand Ambassador, Louis Royer Cognac, who is a sixth generation member of the house's family. "The winners' cocktails exemplified depth of flavor and sophistication while highlighting the spirit's charms and versatility."
The final competition was held at Porchlight, Danny Meyer's first standalone bar located in Manhattan's West Chelsea. It was judged by spirits/cocktail industry luminaries:
- Dale DeGroff - Legendary mixologist and founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail
- Paul Pacult - Noted spirits critic and publisher/editor of The Spirit Journal
- Steve Olson - Founder of aka wine geek and renowned spirits, wine and cocktail expert
- Jack Robertiello - Widely-respected spirits and cocktail writer
- Nicolas Royer - Louis Royer Cognac's U.S. Brand Ambassador and a sixth-generation family member
- Timothy Miner - Bartender at Long Island Bar and winner of the Grand Prize of the 3rd "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition
"Last year I took third place so I was particularly determined to win it this year," says Buda. "I am honored to be selected from such a talented group of bartenders presenting some really great drinks. It is important to me to work with brands that I believe in, and I think Louis Royer makes an exceptional collection of spirits. I'm extremely excited for the opportunity to go to France and see first hand how it is made."
ShakeStir.com, a leading online community of thousands of bartenders and mixologists, compiled the cocktail recipes and promoted the competition to its members.
About Louis Royer Cognac
Founded in 1853, Louis Royer is an iconic Cognac house located on the banks of the Charente River in Jarnac, France. It is a revered producer of Cognacs, including VSOP, high proof and XO expressions that have earned more than 30 international awards since 2010. In 2015, Louis Royer "Force 53" VSOP Cognac received a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition. The high proof spirit was also awarded a Gold Medal from the Beverage Testing Institute in 2014, which the house's XO won that year as well. In addition, XO was named among the World's Top 120 Spirits by Paul Pacult's renowned The Spirit Journal. Master Blender Laurent Robin works closely with Master Selector Jerome Royer, a fifth-generation family member, together with Master Distiller Monia Martin, to meld together fine eaux-de-vie to create Cognacs of remarkable complexity and approachability. They exemplify the house's bee emblem that symbolizes its passion for work, organization and commitment. For more information, please visit www.louis-royer.com. On social media, please follow us on Twitter at @Force53cognac and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LOUISROYERCOGNAC.
Media Contacts:
Hanna Lee or Jen Neugeboren
Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.
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SOURCE Louis Royer Cognac
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