Tax day is the deadline for entries into the Milagro USBG Tales of the Cocktail 2010 competition
By Francine Cohen

Just like taxes, but much much tastier, the deadline is looming for entry into this year’s Tales of the Cocktail USBG competition. Kicking off the fun on Friday, July 23rd this annual competition will feature USBG members mixing up their variations of a margarita with Milagro tequila as the key ingredient that shines through.
Entries are due in tomorrow, tax day (aka April 15th). Competition guidelines and an entry form are below.
Good luck!

COMPETITION RULES AND INFORMATION

USBG Milagro Tequila Margarita Competition

Location: The Board of Trade (316 Magazine Street)
New Orleans, LA
Date: Friday, July 23, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with set-up beginning at 12:00 p.m. for competitors

Drink Submission
Each recipe must feature Milagro Tequila
Each chapter will receive sample bottles of Milagro Tequila Silver to each chapter president’s house for use during experimentation and recipe creation
Other spirits may be used as modifiers – As long as Milagro Tequila shines through
All readily available ingredients will be provided
All unusual items must be provided by the competitor
If we are unable to secure your preferred brands, substitutes may be made with your prior
approval
Be mindful of what will be in season in New Orleans during the summer of 2010
All homemade ingredients must be provided by the competitor
If the competitor would prefer to make it onsite, extra kitchen time must be scheduled,
ingredients must be listed in recipe and any unusual items must be brought by competitor
The drink size: 3 ounces
Showcase the spirit of YOUR CITY AND COCKTAIL CULTURE in your recipe

Final Round
No glassware will be provided at the competition
Competitors are allowed to bring personal glassware for judges’ cocktails during the
competition
At the final competition in New Orleans, each competitor will be required to set-up and serve
samples of their winning recipe to Tales of the Cocktail attendees, who will vote during the
event. Expect about 450 attendees and 3 to 5 professional judges
Competitors must bring their own non-branded bar tools to use during the competition
We will provide basic UBER Tools, the official tool partner of our competition
We ask that USBG representatives wear their chapter pins during the competition
Costumes permitted and encouraged at event

Judging Process
A preliminary jury of professionals will select the top recipe from each of the 15 competing
USBG chapters
Entries will be judged on the basis of taste, originality, presentation and creative use of Milagro
Tequila and other quality ingredients
At the event, three to five professional judges will taste and judge your cocktail
Personal glassware is permitted for judges’ cocktails

Compensation/Prizes
The selected representative from each of the chapters will receive the following:
o Airfare allowance from home city to New Orleans to attend the live competition
 $425.00 allowance from west coast chapters
 $325.00 all other chapters
o Hotel accommodations for three nights (Thursday through Saturday) at the Hotel
Monteleone during Tales of the Cocktail

 Rooms to be shared with one other USBG member
o $30.00 allowance per person for round trip airport transfers.
o Tales of the Cocktail Ticket Package
o Milagro Merchandise
o First place USBG chapter will receive $1,500.00 for their chapter and a limited edition
Milagro Trophy
o People’s Choice Champion will receive a limited edition Milagro Tequila Trophy

All recipe entries are the property of and may be used by Milagro, Tales of the Cocktail, USBG and In the Mix for any purpose. Exact prizes may be subject to change. Tales of the Cocktail, Milagro Tequila, USBG and In the Mix may feature winning recipes. Milagro Tequila, Tales of the Cocktail, USBG and In the Mix representatives reserve the right to use recipes as well as photographs of both the contestants and their recipes for promotional purposes. Milagro Tequila,
Tales of the Cocktail, USBG and In the Mix may use winners and finalists’ names without compensation in promotional efforts. All contestants must be 21 years of age or older.

Entry Form

USBG Milagro Tequila Margarita Competition
Friday, July 23, 2010
New Orleans, Louisiana
Entry deadline APRIL 15th 2010

Chapter:
 Austin
 Chicago
 Connecticut
 Dallas
 Denver
 Hawaii
 Las Vegas
 Los Angeles or SOCA
 Miami
 Milwaukee
 New Orleans
 New York
 Philadelphia
 Phoenix
 San Francisco or NOCA  
 St. Louis

PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY, OR TYPE .

Competitor’s Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Place of Employment: _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone (Best Available): ( ) __________________________________________________________________
E-mail: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Rewrite email: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Drink Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________
RECIPE

SINGLE COCKTAIL – For Judges

Product Name Item OUNCE(S)

BATCH COCKTAIL

PLEASE NOTE: This recipe needs to batch in a 5-gallon container.

Product Name Item OUNCE(S)

Garnish: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Directions:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For any additional questions, please contact Michelle Dunnick Michelle@TalesoftheCocktail.com