About Ultimate Cocktail Challenge

Ultimate Cocktail Challenge

Consisting of Classic Cocktail Challenge & Signature Cocktail Challenge

June 4–8, 2012

Astor Center, New York City

Mission: To determine which spirits and sparkling wine brands taste the best in Classic cocktail recipes (Classic Cocktail Challenge and Signature (proprietary) cocktail recipes (Signature Cocktail Challenge). All entries are mixed by top bartenders and judged by the world’s foremost mixology experts.
Chairman of Judging: F. Paul Pacult: educator/author/journalist, publisher of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal & founding partner of BAR LLC.
Co-Chairman of Judging: Sean Ludford: editor of BevX on-line newsletter.

Classic Cocktail Challenge

Spirits and sparkling wines (gin, vodka, cognac, champagne, etc) are evaluated by panels of experts in Classic Cocktail recipes to determine which brand performs best in each Classic Cocktail within their category.

Companies may enter products into both Classic Cocktail Challenge and Signature Cocktail Challenge or enter either/or.
Each product entered will be placed into its relevant spirits or sparkling wine category (cognac cocktails, Scotch cocktails, pisco cocktails, etc.).
Each category contains several Classic Cocktail recipes and every entered product will be judged in each cocktail within the category. For example, all gin entries will go head-to-head in each of the recipes in the gin category: a Dry Martini, a Gin & Tonic, a Negroni and an Aviation.
Each Classic Cocktail will be mixed using the identical recipe, mixers and measurements (classic recipes chosen after careful consultation with UCC’s mixology advisors, David Wondrich and Jim Meehan) - only the submitted spirit or sparkling wine will change.
The Classic Cocktail will be mixed by top New York City bartenders and served blind to panels of UCC judges who will rate it using the 100-point system.
Judging criteria will include how well the spirit or sparkling wine shows in a particular classic cocktail against other spirits competing in the same recipe (e.g., a Sidecar tastes best when which competing cognac is used?).
The highest scoring brand in each Classic Cocktail recipe will move forward to the next judging round. A Chairman’s Trophy for each classic recipe will be selected based on the competing brand’s cumulative score from the two judging rounds.

Signature Cocktail Challenge

Signature Cocktails is a new, free-style cocktail component of Ultimate Cocktail Challenge that features proprietary recipes that have been created for specific brands.

Here’s how the Signature Challenge works:

Companies may enter products into both Classic Cocktail Challenge and Signature Cocktail Challenge or enter either/or.
The submitting company provides UCC with their favorite proprietary cocktail recipe(s) for each specified spirit and/or wine/fortified wine in their desired category.
The required recipe information includes precise quantities in ounces of all ingredients, method of preparation, garnish (if required) and preferred glassware (choice of rocks, Collins or martini glass).
Each Signature Cocktail is judged on its own merit for taste and balance.
Top New York City bartenders will mix the Signature Cocktail using the exact submitted recipe information.
Each Signature Cocktail will be served blind to panels of judges.
The highest rated Signature Cocktail recipe from each category will be the winning recipe and will be awarded a Chairman's Trophy.
The maximum number of ingredients allowed (including garnish) for each Signature recipe is seven.
The submitting company provides UBC with all the spirits ingredients contained in each recipe. One bottle of every spirit included in each recipe is required.
UBC will provide freshly squeezed citrus juices, simple syrup, sodas and tonic waters and all other ingredients that are available in mainstream food markets. But, for example, if your Signature recipe requires bitters other than Angustura, you must provide a bottle of your preferred bitters. If your recipe calls for Luxardo maraschino cherries instead of food market maraschinos you must provide a jar of the Luxardos, etc. If in doubt, please contact us.
Companies may submit multiple Signature (proprietary) cocktail recipes to one or more categories. For example, you may submit as many proprietary recipes featuring your gin brand(s) as you like and as many proprietary recipes as you choose for your vodka brand(s). There is no limit to how many recipes you may enter into Signature Cocktail Challenge. The entry fee for each recipe is $495.
Spirits ingredients, and any ingredients not provided by UBC (see bullet point above) must be packed and shipped separately, recipe by recipe. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Submitting companies may enter products into both the Classic Cocktails and Signature Cocktails Challenges or may enter only Classic Cocktail Challenge or only Signature Cocktail Challenge.

When submitting entries to both Classic Cocktails AND Signature Cocktails, please send entries in separate boxes using separate shipping labels to specify which Challenge (shipping labels included in entry form package). Each Signature Recipe submission must be packed separately. For example, if you are submitting 2 products into Classic Cocktail Challenge and 3 Signature Cocktail Challenge entries, you should send 4 separate boxes: Classics in one box and each Signature entry in an individual box. If in doubt, please contact us.

» Classic Cocktail Recipes
» Benefits of Participation
» FAQs

» Enter Ultimate Cocktail Challenge