RumFest 2005 & the RumFest Cocktail Challenge

[Ed Hamilton]

Check out the eG Forums Calendar for detailed information on RumFest NYC 2005 on Monday night, November 14.

As part of the coming New York Rumfest, there will be a Rumfest Cocktail Contest and an opportunity for you to show the world your best. Gary Regan will be joining me and judges from Polished Palate and Cocktail Times in preliminary judging, then we invite you to join us November 14 at Latin Quarter for the finals during the New York Rumfest.

[Ed Hamilton]

Here's a list of sugar cane spirits that will be available for tasting in New York. This is a partial list and only includes those rums which are confirmed to date. I'll be editing his list in the next few days. There will be many more,

Brands Countries/ Islands

CACHACA

Armazam Viera Santa Catarina Island

-Armazem Vieira Esmeralda, Solera 4 Year-Old Southern Brazil

-Armazem Vieira Rubi, Solera 8 Year-Old

-Armazem Vieira Onix, Solera 16 Year-Old

Beleza Pura Brazil

-Beleza Pura

-Beleza Pura Caipirinha

-Fazenda Mae de Ouro Cachaca Brazil

GRM

-GRM Silver Minas Gerais, Brazil

-GRM Small Batch

-GRM 2 YO

Rochinha Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

-Rochinha Single Barrel 5 YO

-Cachaca Rochinha Single Barrel 12 YO

RUM

Cockspur Barbados

-Cockspur Fine Rum

-Cockspur 12 YO VSOR

Doorly’s XO Barbados

-Doorly’s XO Fine Old Barbados Rum

-Doorly’s 5 YO

-ESA Field White Rum Barbados

-Foursquare Spiced Barbados

Goslings Bermuda

-Goslings Black Seal

-Goslings Gold

-Goslings Old Family Reserve

Inner Circle Australia

-Inner Circle Red Pot Still Rum 80 Proof

-Inner Circle Green Pot Still Rum 114.4 Proof

-Inner Circle Black Pot Still Rum 151.8 Proof

-Khukri Rum Nepal

Oronoco Brazil

Dominican Republic

Ron Barcelo

Ron Barcelo Imperial 21 Year Old Rum

Prichard’s Tennessee, USA

-Prichards Fine Rum

-Prichard’s Cranberry Rum

-Prichard’s Crystal Rum

R. L. Seale

-Chairman’s Reserve 10 YO Barbados

Ron Botran Rum Guatemala

-Ron Botran White Rum

-Ron Botran Oro (Gold) Rum

-Ron Botran Anejo 8 YO Rum

-Ron Botran Anejo 12 YO Rum

-Ron Botran Solera Reserve Rum

Rums of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico, USA

-Barrilito 3 Stars

-Captain Morgan Private Stock

-Bacardi Apple

-Don Q Rum

-Sea Wynde Rum Jamaica/Guyana

-Starr African Rum Island of Mauritius,Africa

-Traveller’s One Barrel Belize, Central America

Zacapa Rum Guatemala

-Zacapa Centenario 15

-23 Year Old Rums

-Zacapa Centenario X.O. 25 Year Old Rum

Cruzan USVI

Cruzan Estate Rum Collection

-Cruzan Black Strap Molasses

-Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum

-Cruzan Estate Diamond Rum

-Cruzan Estate Light Rum

-Cruzan Estate Dark Rum

Cruzan Flavors

-Cruzan Banana Rum

-Cruzan Citrus Rum

-Cruzan Coconut Rum

-Cruzan Mango Rum

-Cruzan Orange Rum

-Cruzan Pineapple Rum

-Cruzan Raspberry Rum

-Cruzan Vanilla Rum

Venezuela

-Diplomatico

RHUM

Clement USA Martinique

-Rhum Clement Premiere Canne White Rum

-Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb

-Rhum Clement VSOP

La Favorite Martinique

-La Favorite Rhum Agricole Blanc Coeur de Canne

-La Favorite Rhum Agricole Ambré Coeur d' ambré

-La Favorite Rhum Agricole Vieux

Niesson Martinique

-Neisson Rhum Agricole Blanc

-Neisson Rhum Agricole Élevé Sous Bois

-Neisson Rhum Agricole Réserve Spéciale

SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

-Castries Rum Cream St. Lucia

-Cockspur Rum Punch Barbados

-Cruzan Rum Cream St. Croix, USVI

-Prichard’s Sweet George Belle Liqueur Tennessee, USA

-Velvet Falernum Barbados

Edited October 17, 2005 by Ed Hamilton (log)

[Dori Bryant]

The RumFest at LQ in NYC Cocktail Challenge is open to any bartender who wishes to submit an entry, i.e., not just Metro New York Bartenders!

[KatieLoeb]

Philadelphia is 90 miles from New York. Am I still part of the "metropolitan area"?

[Jason Perlow]

I think its open to all bartenders now, not just NY metro area ones.

[Bill Poster]

Anything like this in the UK? We only have Bar at Earls court which is not the same

[Alchemist]

Very cool. How does one sighn up? Do we submit a recipie, or do we make them for the judges? Is it a blind tasting or not?

[gethin]

Anything like this in the UK? We only have Bar at Earls court which is not the same

←

Bill, when you say "anything like this" do you mean rum based cocktail competitions ? or cocktail competitions more generally?

If the former, i'd say yes - occassionaly, if the latter, yes - a surprising number.

Check out magazines such as Wines and Spirits, Theme, Class and Night. Certainly with the first two there is rarely an issue without a report on some brand sponsored competition for professional bar staff complete with details of winning cocktails and announcements for forthcoming competitions.

Gethin

[waves2ya]

Am I still part of the "metropolitan area"?

←

Not only are you, the NYT went so far as to suggest Phila is the city's sixth borough...

The Next Borough

Not me, mind you - the Times.

[Ed Hamilton]

Very cool.  How does one sighn up?  Do we submit a recipie, or do we make them for the judges?  Is it a blind tasting or not?

←

There is a link to the contest at the top of this topic. For further information contact Dori Bryant through the Polished Palate website.

[Dori Bryant]

Check out the eG Forums Calendar for detailed information on RumFest NYC 2005 on Monday night, November 14.

As part of the coming New York Rumfest, there will be a Rumfest Cocktail Contest and an opportunity for you to show the world your best. Gary Regan will be joining me and judges from Polished Palate and Cocktail Times in preliminary judging, then we invite you to join us November 14 at Latin Quarter for the finals during the New York Rumfest.

←

[Dori Bryant]

Hi Ed,

Thought you'd like to know that RumFest in NYC is now precisely 2 weeks away!! Zaya signed on this weekend, an incredible rum from Guatemala, but, you already knew that!

We might have a new liqueur to taste, a 'stand-alone' flavor. Will keep you posted as to whether or not we'll all get a taste.

The cocktail challenge entries are all in and Gary Regan (Ardent Spirits), Audrey Saunders (Pegu Club), Yuri Kato (Cocktail Times)... are all doing the pre-judging now. We hope to be able to announce the 2 finalists from Rum, Rhum & Cachaca categories by mid-week. If I can EVER figure out how to 'play' on eGullet, I'll sign back on to announce the finalists.

All of the cocktails entered were intelligently created.

Dori Bryant

[M.X.Hassett]

*bump*

Monday is a day to rejoice in the fine spirits known as Rum, Rhum, Ron & Cachaça. Hope to see you there. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=ca...ent&eventid=557

[KatieLoeb]

*bump*

Monday is a day to rejoice in the fine spirits known as Rum, Rhum, Ron & Cachaça. Hope to see you there. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=ca...ent&eventid=557

←

So who else is attending? I'll be there!

[M.X.Hassett]

Rumfest 2005 cocktail challenge finalists:

Rum Category:

"The Lytton Fizz" by John Myers, Restaurant Oolong, Portaland ME

"Adult Film Starr" by Jeffrey Zarnow, Starr African Rum

Rhum Category:

"The 1838" by Bobby "G" Gleason, Mixologist/Beverage Specialist, Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

"The Affinity Cocktail #2" by Philip Ward

Cachaca Category:

"Amazonia" submitted by Neil Ventura

"Moda Martini" submitted by Karyn Reigel of Excalibur, created by John Mautone, Dylan Prime, NY

See you all tonight.

[slkinsey]

Cool. Glad to see Philip Ward's drink there!

[fatdeko]

Rumfest 2005 cocktail challenge finalists:

Rum Category:

"The Lytton Fizz" by John Myers, Restaurant Oolong, Portaland ME

"Adult Film Starr" by Jeffrey Zarnow, Starr African Rum

Rhum Category:

"The 1838" by Bobby "G" Gleason, Mixologist/Beverage Specialist, Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

"The Affinity Cocktail #2" by Philip Ward

Cachaca Category:

"Amazonia" submitted by Neil Ventura

"Moda Martini" submitted by Karyn Reigel of Excalibur, created by John Mautone, Dylan Prime, NY

See you all tonight.

←

OK!

It's driving me a bit mad.

I conceed, already!!

I'll let Sam at the PEGU win this event if it means that all my co-workers will leave me alone, or at least stop bugging me for "The Drink"!

Ed, Dori, et al: what's the upshot of the

BIGGEST AND BESTEST SHOWCASE OF THE MOST CANE BASED SPIRITS EVER ASSEMBLED FOR A PUBLIC TASTING IN THE HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA?

myers

[KatieLoeb]

I liked your drink. So did my friend that was with me. Sadly, I think the unionized "rent-a-tenders" that were doing the mixing that evening couldn't have given a rat's hynie whether the drinks were properly mixed from the recipes (that they'd never seen until that afternoon, I'm certain) or whether they would have known if they were even if they tasted them. So sadly, I don't think the drinks were a fair representation of their creator's good intentions and fine palates. Kinda made me glad my drinks didn't make the finals though.

I have every confidence that the fine folks behind this festival will remedy this situation for the next cocktail contest they sponsor. The selection of spirits available for tasting was extensive and brilliantly put together, the venue was great, the silent auction was awesome and some truly astonishing bargains were to be had if you were paying attention. The event was a HUGE success in every way except for the drinks being mixed for the public to judge. One small miscalculation that I'm certain will never be repeated.

[Dori Bryant]

KATIE, JOHN: DORI HERE...It was wonderful meeting you at RumFest. I'm sorry the results were not released until yesterday. We wanted to announce them with the photos of all three winners and are still missing one. So, I sent our Press Release out last night, in lieu of waiting.

Yes, I have to admit that LQ and their union bartenders did not follow instructions (they had the finalist recipes for + 2 weeks, from the day they were selected). We have several options on conducting them going forward. But, so you know, they will be conducted with utmost professionalism or we will discontinue including the contests as a part of the Fests.

The winners have been chosen and all were exceptional recipes. It was difficult as there were so many cocktails that were 1 or 2 pts. away from each other, during the preliminaries AND during the final voting. It's clear that the efforts put into the competition, in some instances, were extra-ordinary. We respect that and, as mentioned, have already taken steps to ensure the contests will be run to exacting standards that reflect the time, effort and creativity per each mixologist.

The winners are The Moda Martini from John Mautone of Dylan Prime in NYC--cachaca category; The 1838 from Bobby 'G' Gleason of The Rio Hotel Casino in Las Vegas--Rhum Category; The Adult Film Starr from Sam Ross of Pegu Club in NYC-Rum Category

Dori

[dsoneil]

Now that the Rumfest winners have been announced, someone should post the recipe(s) for the second place cocktails. I'd like to try the Lytton Fizz and compare it to the winner.

[slkinsey]

The winners:

The Adult Film Starr (rum category) created by Sam Ross of Pegu Club

2 oz. Starr African Rum

1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 oz. Licor 43

1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

3 pieces of cucumber

Nutmeg

In shaker, muddle cucumber, add all ingredients except for nutmeg and shake, strain over cracked ice in double rocks glass, garnish with cucumber spears and grated nutmeg.

The 1838 (rhum category) created by Bobby "G" Gleason of Harrah's Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino

1 1/4 oz Neisson Rhum Agricole Reserve Speciale

1/2 oz Yellow Chartreuse

1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice

Juice of 1/2 Lime

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice until well blended. Strain into a double highball glass over loosely packed crushed ice. Garnish with a sugar cane stir stick and a pineapple parrot.

The Moda Martini (cachaça category) created by John Mautone of Dylan Prime

3 oz Beleza Pura Super Premium Cachaça

2 oz Cruzan Banana (or Raspberry) Rum

1 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz pineapple juice

Chill a martini glass. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a large mint leaf in the center of glass.

Lots of cool ingredients like Licor 42 and Yellow Chartreuse. The cachaça drink is gigantic, though: 6.5 ounces of liquid before shaking!

[phlip]

terrible terrible terrible. why have a cocktail contest that people make drinks for get picked as finalists for get excited for and then get to watch your drink mixed with not only no care no passion but not even anything nearing compattence or the right ingrediants. lets just say im confused. i cant decide if im more pissed or disappointed. boy was it rotten.

[phlip]

furthermore how can you even pick winners when for the majority of the evening ontly three of the cocktails were made. guess which three won. sham sham sham

[KatieLoeb]

phlip:

I'm certain that no one intentionally or maliciously "rigged" the contest, if that's what you're implying. From Dori's note above it seems that no one was more surprised or disappointed by how things turned out than she and the other organizers were. Actually, if what Dori says that those LQ bartenders had those recipes for two full weeks and still couldn't do the recipes and creators justice, then I'd hold them personally responsible for a bad attitude and a lousy work ethic. No one could have predicted that. I'm astonished they can keep their jobs with so little pride in what they do and so little concern for what crosses their bar.

[phlip]

was not implying any rigging. or blaming ed or dori personally. fond of both those folks. i realize they werent to blame. unions belong in the grapes of wrath not new york hotels.