DonQ International Rum Competition, World Cocktail Week, Nouveau Sake, Stinky Cheese
2/1-6/21 DONQ RUM/ USBG Competition – Regional, Semi-Finals, International
Regionals – February 1-April 15
USBG chapters holding local cocktail competitions using DonQ Rum http://www.donq.com/rum/ . Regional winners, who are announced on 4/16, will each receive a DonQ Rum kit, a trip for 1 to the Manhattan Cocktail Classic www.manhattancocktailclassic.com including roundtrip coach airfare and hotel, and the right to compete at the Semi-Finals held at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic on 4/17.
National Semi-Finals – April 17 (New York City)
Held at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic on 4/17, drinks will be judged by a jury panel to determine the 3-5 finalists who will comprise the USBG US Drink Team to represent the USBG at the Finals in Puerto Rico. Crowd favorite cocktail determined by attendees. US Drink Team receives: Trip for 1 to the Finals in San Juan, PR during the Noche de San Juan Festivities to compete against the Puerto Rico Drink Team, USBG includes roundtrip coach airfare to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Hotel stay for 1 night at the Ponce Hilton, Hotel stay for 2 nights at in San Juan, Private tour of the DestilerÍa Serrallés, Private tour of the Serrallés Castle, Airport transfers, Transportation to and from Ponce – San Juan, Co branded USBG/DonQ/Rums Of Puerto Rico monogrammed jacket.
Finals –June 21 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, the birthplace of the Piña Colada. This date is very special in San Juan as it is the patron saint’s, San Juan (St. John) eve.
Bartenders face official judges and public opinion polls with winner being named before midnight. Winners take all with: 1st Prize: $2,000.00, 2nd Prize: $1,000.00, 3rd Prize: $500.00, $5,000 donation made to the winning team’s chosen non-profit organization on their behalf (paid for by DonQ), participation at the Esquire House DonQ Rum non-profit event, online videos featuring the winners and their winning recipes and drinks, winners to be featured on the 2010 Holiday video, recipe book and print ad in National publication (such as Esquire)* please note, this is subject to DonQ creative ownership and may change, exposure via media outreach by DonQ’s PR teams communicating the events and the winners.
To enter: see your chapter President for an entry form.
3/1 – STINKY CHEESE PREVIEW
As a kick off to this year’s Winter Stinky Cheese Festival the chefs of Culinary Tour de France’s (www.tourdefrancenyc.com) nine distinctively Gallic restaurants invite you to a preview evening of the group’s upcoming festivities at Marseille (630 Ninth Avenue, at 44th Street, NYC www.marseillenyc.com). Mix and mingle with the chefs and ask your burning questions about fromage as you enjoy raclette paired with wine. Then there’s more cheesy goodness – a four-course menu comprised of inventive dishes inspired by smelly fromages that will be featured on each restaurant’s menu for the duration of the festival (March 3-12). $55 for wine & cheese reception and four-course dinner with wine; tax and gratuity not included. Reserve: (212) 333-2323 and reference “Zagat Presents.” http://www.zagat.com/events/zagatpresents/newyork
3/3 – NOUVEAU SAKE FORUM – FIRST EVER TASTINGS
Gather at The Kitano Penthouse for a Sake Nouveau tasting and forum hosted by Kuramato US, Inc. www.kuramotous.com/) Sake Specialist Lloyd Foster to present lectures on “Pairing Food w/Sake; Sake vs. Wine ” at 2, and “How Temperature Affects the Taste of Sake” at 3.
Vote on your favorite new tasting at this event held from 1-5 PM at The Kitano New York/Penthouse (66 Park Avenue, at 38th Street, NYC). For more information and/or to RSVP, please contact Sara Gorelick, 646-624-2885 ext. 111, sgorelick@colangelopr.com
5/6-13 WORLD COCKTAIL WEEK
World Cocktail Week® was established to promote better understanding and appreciation of the art of the cocktail and its history, and responsible drinking. The date commemorates the first definition of the term Cocktail in print in the 1806 edition of The Balance and Columbian Repository. Fundraising events are planned in cities around the world. Proceeds will go towards supporting the Museum and its mixology series. For more information about WCW events go to: http://www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org/wcd/
New Orleans 5/6– at the Museum of the American Cocktail – See the world’s largest Fire & Ice Mint Julep prepared in a 10 gallon silver punch bowl – by Dale DeGroff and Chris McMillian. Tickets for the New Orleans event are available at: http://www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org/Events/Default.aspx#Seminar54\
Questions on how your venue can participate, or to become a WCW Sponsor- email info@MuseumOfTheAmericanCocktail.org