Woodford Reserve® and Esquire Magazine Search for the  Ultimate Well-Crafted Manhattan

September 20, 2010, Louisville, Ky. – With the recent resurgence of pre-Prohibition bourbon cocktails, the classic Manhattan is making a comeback across the country. Woodford Reserve bourbon and Esquire magazine are teaming up to give eligible bartenders and at-home mixologists the chance to win a trip to New York City as part of the Craft the Ultimate Manhattan contest beginning this fall.

From September 15 to November 30, eligible consumers are encouraged to submit their own recipe online at www.wellcraftedmanhattan.com. Entries will be judged in the categories of taste, name, ingredients, creativity and presentation, and recipes must include Woodford Reserve bourbon as the primary ingredient. One grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to Manhattan, while second and third place winners will receive prizes from Woodford Reserve and Esquire. Winners will be notified on or about December 20. Official rules are available at www.wellcraftedmanhattan.com.*

“Woodford Reserve is a hand-crafted bourbon with exceptional smoothness and is the cornerstone of a well-balanced Manhattan cocktail,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “Along with our partners at Esquire, we look forward to crowning the winner of the Craft the Ultimate Manhattan Contest.”

In addition to the online consumer contest, Woodford Reserve and Esquire will host a series of bartender exhibition events in select U.S. markets in October and November. Bartenders will showcase their own well-crafted Manhattan cocktails during The Manhattan Experience events. Five finalists in every city will be chosen prior to each event from recipes submitted online and the bartenders’ creations will be judged by a panel of experts. The regional winners will then showcase their Manhattans during an exclusive event New York City on January 10, 2011.

The Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience bartender exhibition schedule is below:

•       Monday, October 4: New York, NY

•       Tuesday, October 12: Jersey City, NJ

•       Monday, October 18: Seattle, WA

•       Monday, November 8: Houston, TX

•       Monday, November 15: Versailles, KY

Along with observing some of the nation’s best mixologists in action, attendees to The Manhattan Experience events will also be able to bid on auction items from Woodford Reserve and Esquire throughout the evening. Woodford Reserve will also donate $2 for every person who attends each event. All proceeds from the auctions and attendance will benefit the Culinary Institute of America.

To celebrate the spirit of crafting the ultimate cocktail, Esquire magazine’s resident mixologist David Wondrich has developed the Esquire Manhattan featuring Woodford Reserve. The cocktail recipe is as follows:

Esquire Manhattan featuring Woodford Reserve

1.5 to 2 oz Woodford Reserve

1 oz Martini & Rossi red vermouth

1/2 oz Fernet Branca

Stir well with cracked ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and twist swatch of thin-cut orange peel over the top.

*No purchase necessary.  Must be of legal drinking age.  Void in CA and where prohibited.  See official rules for details. 

About Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman

Corporation, a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Fetzer, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Tuaca, and Bonterra. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com.
 
About Esquire

Esquire (www.esquire.com), published by Hearst Magazines, was the winner of the 2009 National Magazine Awards for “Feature Writing,” “Personal Service” and “Leisure Interests.” It is the most-honored monthly magazine in America with a total of 13 awards. Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front, with Esquire mobile (m.esquire.com). In addition to its U.S. flagship, Esquire publishes 16 editions around the world. 

About The Culinary Institute of America

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor’s and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts as well as certificate programs in culinary arts and wine and beverage studies. As the world’s premier culinary college, the CIA has a network of more than 40,000 alumni that includes industry leaders such as Grant Achatz, Anthony Bourdain, Michael Chiarello, Cat Cora, Steve Ells, Todd English, Duff Goldman, Sara Moulton, Charlie Palmer, and Roy Yamaguchi. The college has campuses in New York (Hyde Park), California (The CIA at Greystone, St. Helena), and Texas (San Antonio), and an international location in Singapore (Temasek Polytechnic). In addition to its degree programs, the CIA offers courses for professionals and enthusiasts, as well as consulting services for the foodservice and hospitality industry. For more information, and a complete listing of program offerings at each site, visit the CIA online at www.ciachef.edu.

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2010.