Do you have what it takes to Swizzle your way to a win in New Orleans? The Swizzle competition on the Catersource Tradeshow floor is looking for a few good caterer/bartenders to compete on Wednesday afternoon, February 27.
2018 competitor Ryan Crafts rocks the bourbon with his "Barrel-Infused Sidecountry" featuring his own Blood Orange & Fig Bitters
We provide the spirits, bar kits, and other various accoutrements, you provide the recipes and the talent in this lively and fun competition, emceed by Jeff Selden of Marcia Selden Catering & Events, and kept on a close timer by Kathleen Stoehr. No making up cocktails on the spot—your recipes will be required by mid-January in order to ensure all ingredients are on hand. All you have to do is complete each round in 10 minutes and present your drink to the judging panel.
2018 Swizzle competition winner, Jeremy Miner added dazzle with his "Vaporized Manhattan."
Competition categories:
ROUND ONE: GIN
Gin for the win?
As the “vodka for grownups,” premium gin is experiencing an incredible rise in sales due to interest in the botanically driven craft brands favored by millennials. The flavor stigma that all gins taste like juniper has been put to rest, much in part to the rise in interest in classic and craft cocktails from the early 20th century. Prohibition cocktails such as the French 75, Gin Rickey, and Corpse Reviver all claim gin as their primary spirit. In this round, bartenders will be asked to create a gin-based cocktail that will slide right next to the classics of yore.
ROUND TWO: VODKA
Vodka puts a spring in your step!
Gin might be on the rise and bourbon might be the tall, dark, and handsome of the spirit world, but vodka accounts for the lion’s share of liquor sales after doffing its stigma back in the 1940s. In this freeform competition, bartenders will be tasked with creating a vodka-forward beverage that speaks to a wide variety of imbibers and the varied events we orchestrate. Think weddings and springtime and you will be on the right path.
ROUND THREE: BOURBON
I like my kitchen neat…just like my bourbon.
The bourbon boom continues into 2019. Consider that the number of American distilleries, over a 10-year period, rose from 3 dozen, to almost 1,400 by 2016. In this round, we will be looking at the spirit-forward goodness of an unpretentious but exquisitely crafted bourbon cocktail. A sipper, if you will, designed to slide down the gullet and warm the bellies of those lucky enough to judge this round.
The winner will take home a beautiful trophy, a $500 check, various barware goodies from Mercer Culinary, and bragging rights!
Interested? Send an email to Kathleen Stoehr at Catersource for additional information!
