Competition - Sagamore Spirit Cocktail Showdown

from Chilled Magazine - Volume 14 Issue 4

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SAGAMORE SPIRIT 2ND ANNUAL COCKTAIL SHOWDOWN

SAGAMORE SPIRIT CHALLENGES BARTENDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MIX UP THE BEST RYE WHISKEY COCKTAIL

By Sophia DeVito

Throughout the summer, Sagamore Spirit hosted their second annual cocktail showdown, where they challenged bartenders across the country to make the best rye whiskey cocktail. The competition was separated into three regions: West, Central, and East, with one winner chosen from each. The three regional winners will compete for a chance to win in the finals, which will be held live at the Sagamore Spirit Baltimore distillery.

With the desire to tap into the top mixologists, Marcus Stephens, EVP of Brand Marketing at Sagamore Spirit says, “We are constantly hearing from our teammates about the talented mixologists they have in their markets, and we wanted to showcase them through a cocktail-centered, national competition.”

One of the main requirements of the competition was using Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey as the base of their cocktail. The signature rye whiskey has candied dried orange peel and walnut notes, making it a delicious foundation for craft cocktails.

Compared to other competitions, Sagamore Spirit takes a different approach. Stephens explains, “To get to the top three contestants in each region, we have fans vote online for their favorite entry. Then, we engage mixology and bar experts from each region to pick the winner in real time.” Stephens adds that the talent and creativity made choosing a winner for each region difficult.

Central Regional showdown winner Max Wingert of Houston won with his take on an Old Fashioned. Wingert laughs, “Simple but elegant, classy and smooth. What better way to show that than a fresh take on a classic with a little edible gold flake garnish for added class?” Wingert’s cocktail consists of Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, Cointreau, Kahlúa, and orange bitters.

Using a similar approach, Troy Del Grosso, West Coast Regional winner, adds, “I love spirit-forward cocktails, and rye whiskey is the perfect complement for classic cocktails.” The Las Vegas-based bartender used Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, Meletti Amaro, Lillet Blanc, Green Chartreuse, and Angostura Orange bitters to create his best rye whiskey cocktail.

Finally, East Coast Regional winner Ryan Minnick says, “I like to push the product and have others enjoy it in various ways. There’s no wrong way to drink whiskey.” The Delaware-based bartender created The Nobleman cocktail with Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, Yellow Chartreuse, Black Walnut and Ancient Trade bitters, and Allspice Dram.

The National Finals will be an in-person event held on September 28th, where the overall winner will receive $1,000.

Impressed with the turnout and entries, Stephens concludes, “We were shocked and excited by the number of entries we have had so far and impressed by the creativity of the mixologists we’ve met. It truly is an art form to dream up a cocktail from scratch by combining distinct and appealing flavors.”