Moet & Chandon Announces Winner of the Inaugural Moet Oscar® Cocktail Contest

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Moet & Chandon, the champagne of success and glamour since 1743, is proud to announce the winner of the inaugural Moet Oscar Cocktail Contest. The legendary Champagne House congratulates Chicago native Adam Seger, whose Moet Red Carpet Glamour cocktail dazzled a panel of expert judges and the social media community alike. The Moet Red Carpet Glamour cocktail – selected for its originality, taste and popularity – will be brought to life at the 2012 Governors Ball, the after-party of the 84th Academy Awards®. In its fourth year as the exclusive champagne of the Academy Awards, Moet & Chandon is pleased to share this once in a lifetime opportunity with its winning mixologist and commends all Moet Oscar Cocktail Contest participants.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/NY54533 )

The Moet Red Carpet Glamour captures the essence of Hollywood glamour with exquisite notes of heady cardamom and kaffir lime that develop a refreshing and harmonious taste. This winning cocktail was chosen for its modern combination of the Hum® botanical spirit with Moet & Chandon Imperial, which highlights the flavor profile of champagne and truly celebrates the elegance of the Academy Awards.

"The Moet Red Carpet Glamour cocktail will be a gorgeous addition to this year's Governors Ball," said Aida Mollenkamp, Moet & Chandon's Award Season home entertaining expert. "The cocktail is intriguing and innovative yet still allows the flavor of the Moet & Chandon Imperial champagne to shine."

Aida Mollenkamp joins Moet & Chandon as this year's home entertaining expert in a new Oscar season collaboration.  The acclaimed chef and culinary curator, known for her signature combinations of fresh, seasonal ingredients and use of ethnic flavors, has created four new food recipes to pair with Moet Imperial champagne and the Moet Red Carpet Glamour for the perfect Oscar at-home viewing party.

Mollenkamp has drawn inspiration from a selection of this year's most acclaimed Best Picture nominees, providing Oscar party hosts with a unique culinary collection of healthy, fun and easy-to-eat dishes including:

• Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche, and Fennel Rillettes; the classic French ingredients in this dish pair perfectly with Hugo, a movie set in 1930s Paris.
• Crisp Tempura Vegetables with Miso-Mustard Sauce; a modern Hawaiian-inspired dish with locally sourced ingredients ideal for cheering for The Descendants.
• Meyer Lemon icebox Pie Bites Inspired by The Help; icebox cakes are a perfect dessert for warm Southern nights.
• Pancetta, Thyme, and Fontina Gougeres; A modern interpretation of authentic French style just like the pure French style in The Artist and Midnight in Paris.

The Moet Oscar Cocktail contest debuted on January 19th. Participants submitted entries and cast votes through the Moet & Chandon USA Facebook page, http://oscarcontest.moet.com, and a specially developed QR code created for mobile users.

Moet Red Carpet Glamour Cocktail Recipe & Directions:

• Fill a chilled Champagne Flute 1/2 way with ice.
• Stir 1 ounce of Fresh Squeezed Sour Mix and Hum® Botanical Spirit with fresh ice.
• Strain into Flute to fill 1/2 way.
• Top with Moet & Chandon Imperial.
• Garnish with a Single Rose Petal.
• Continually refresh as you wish with Moet & Chandon Imperial as the Champagne will float on top of the Hum Sour, but its effervescence will deliver Hum's heady cardamom & Kaffir lime notes.
• Fresh Squeeze Sour Mix Preparation: Combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water until sugar is completely dissolved. Add 1 cup fresh lime juice and 1 cup fresh lemon juice and refrigerate.

In its tradition of grandeur and generosity, Moet & Chandon will treat Adam Seger and a guest to an exciting behind-the-scenes Oscar weekend, including a three-night stay at the JW Marriott Los Angeles LA Live, roundtrip airfare on United Airlines, car service, tickets to the Governors Ball Preview Event, red carpet bleacher seats at the Fan Experience Red Carpet Arrival and Viewing Party on Oscar Sunday and access to the official Oscar viewing party at El Capitan.

About Moet & Chandon, the Champagne of Cinema
For over 260 years, Moet & Chandon has been the symbol of glamorous celebrations, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary with the pop of a cork.  Moet has been the champagne of cinema since the early days of Hollywood, supporting several hundred films since the 1930s, ranging from small productions to international blockbusters including iconic films such as Love in the Afternoon, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Pretty Woman, Titanic, Ocean's 12, Nine, Up in the Air, and more recently Sex and the City 2 and Wall Street 2.   In the same way legendary film directors preserve timeless moments on film, Moët & Chandon continues to showcase its legendary love affair with the magic of movies. www.Moet.com.

SOURCE Moet & Chandon