After a nationwide search, Woodford Reserve has crowned Travis Fourmont, a bartender from the Detroit area, the 2013 Master of the Manhattan after his creative “Midnight Manhattan” cocktail was judged as the best by a panel of experts.
BourbonBlog.com‘s NYC correspondent Matt Capucilli was at reporting from the finale event at No 8. in Manhattan on Janauary 7 as bartenders from Portland, Detroit, Savannah, Annapolis, Philadelphia and Hoboken, NJ competed.
Following a nationwide online vote, the six bartenders showcased their original Manhattan cocktail recipes, (all finalists recipes on this link).
Award-winning cocktail writer and historian David Wondrich, spirits educator and Manhattan Cocktail Classic co-founder Andy Seymour and Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris
Morris judged the bartenders’ cocktails during the finale. Kelly Choi, host of Top Chef Master’s and Emmy award winner, emceed the event.
Morris judged the bartenders’ cocktails during the finale. Kelly Choi, host of Top Chef Master’s and Emmy award winner, emceed the event.
“We’d like to congratulate Travis and all the bartenders who submitted recipes for this year’s Manhattan Experience,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “The bartenders showcased Woodford Reserve’s five unique sources of flavor in their creative takes on the classic Manhattan cocktail.”
The winning recipe from Travis Fourmont was the Midnight Manhattan:
2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. Italian Amaro
¼ oz. Bitter Orange Liqueur
¼ oz. Danish Cherry Liqueur
4 dashes House-Made Orange Bitters
Pour all ingredients over ice and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a
flambéed orange twist.
Travis and his winning recipe will be featured in an upcoming Woodford Reserve advertisement in
Esquire. To learn more about The Manhattan Experience, please