Barmade Bitters Challenge
“Tales of the Cocktail is the premier cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking,” says Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail. “It is the ideal place to celebrate and explore the bartender’s craft of handmade artisan bitters—with the ultimate goal of finding the world’s most innovative new ideas.”
Inspired by artisan bartenders, the contest will include three categories—fruit, spice and herb. Five finalists per category will be invited to present their aromatic bitters personally at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, where judges will select one winner per category. “There’s volcanic potential in bartenders,” says Melkon Khosrovian, co-founder and spirits maker at TRU Organic Spirits. “Can’t wait to see what they’ve got.” Khosrovian will work with all three winning bartenders to formulate and produce their aromatic bitters for commercial sale. Each bitter will be produced as an organic product as an extension of the TRU Organic Spirits line of organic vodkas and gin.
Aromatic bitters entries will be judged according to each bartender’s recommended proportions in a selection of six simple cocktails made with popular base spirits (gin, vodka, bourbon, cognac and rum). Judges will look for how small quantities of bitters add depth to cocktails and mix with a broad range of alcohols.
Submissions are due at the Modern Spirits Laboratory, where TRU is created, April 1, 2009. There judges will select the finalists to compete live at Tales of the Cocktail on Sunday, July 12, 2009 starting at 10:30am time in the Hotel Montelone. Final judges will include some of the industry’s most well-regarded experts, and the event will be open to all festival attendees.
Rules and more information at www.truorganicspirits.com/bitters.html and attached.
Ready. Set. Craft!
