Bärenjäger Champion Is On His Way to Oktoberfest

Kyle Ford of New York City Takes 2011 Bärenjäger Bartending Competition

NYC Baretender Kyle Ford Wins 2011 Barenjager Championship

The Second Annual  Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur Recipe Contest has been decided by a panel of celebrity industry judges and Kyle Ford of of Manhattan has been awarded an all-expense paid trip for two to this year’s Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Ford works at Empellon in New York City also  received  $1000, for his winning cocktail named SS Europa, which has a surprisingly basic recipe that used Noilly Pratt Dry Vermouth as the base ‘spirit’.

Six finalists were present, selected by a nationwide online search and the contest final was held in New York City at ‘The Bar Downstairs’ at the Andaz 5th Avenue.

The judges were all respected industry professionals and included Dushan Zaric of Employees Only & Macao, “King Cocktail” and master mixologist Dale DeGroff, acclaimed spirits writer and mixologist David Wondrich, Todd Richman, corporate mixologist at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., and famed bar talent Aisha Sharpe of Contemporary Cocktails, Inc.

SS Europa

2 oz. Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
¾ oz.  Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur
3 Dashes St. George Absinthe

Stirred for 20 seconds then strained to a chilled cocktail glass and garnished with an orange twist

The judges were all respected industry professionals and included Dushan Zaric of Employees Only & Macao, “King Cocktail” and master mixologist Dale DeGroff, acclaimed spirits writer and mixologist David Wondrich, Todd Richman, corporate mixologist at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., and famed bar talent Aisha Sharpe of Contemporary Cocktails, Inc.

The audience also became judges and the crowd was well represented by beverage and spirit leaders who all had the chance to select their  favorite as the runner up.  Erik Smith of Worchester, MA picked up $1000 for his cocktail named

‘Bad News Bear’

1 ½ oz. Bols Genever
1 oz. Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur
½ oz. Benedictine
¾ parts fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 Dashes Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel-aged Bitters

Combine all ingredients in iced shaker,  shake vigorously, then train into pre-chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Judges were asked to select the overall winner based on taste, presentation, appearance, creativity and overall delivery. Along with Ford and Smith, the six finalists included  Chad Arnholt of Boston, MA, Christopher Martino from Washington D.C., Philadelphia’s Colin Shearn and Burton Daniel of Boulder, Colorado.

The Third Annual Bärenjäger Bartending Competition has been confirmed and will begin in July 2012.  Bärenjäger is a 70 liqueur that translates to ‘Bear Hunter’ and  is the quintessential and classic spirited honey based product. It’s German roots date back to the 15th century. Bärenjäger is imported by the Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc.

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Posted by BrandManager on Sep 28 2011. Filed under Brand News, Spirits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry