Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/17414
Winning Combinations When you only have a limited space in your glass, but are challenged to make a creative shot, what inspires you most? Shots are scaled-down cocktails, measuring two ounces in a specially designed Bottega del Vino shot glass. The rules were simple: Using HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur as their “must” ingredient, bartenders in seven cities were instructed to construct creative content for these diminutive drinks. Two winners are chosen in each city: Judges’ Choice and Fan Favorite. The winners will enjoy a Las Vegas Showcase event highlighting the versatility of HARLEM in a shot. Our first stop on the tour was at Chicago’s EPIC Restaurant, where 12 talented shot-makers measured carefully thought-out ingredients to win over our panel of experts. Shots were judged on a score of 1-50, with ten points offered in each of the following categories: 1) Technical skills & presentation flair 2) Appearance 3) Taste 4) Creativity 5) Inspiration Judges for the Shot Competition were, left to right, David Mahoney (journalist and San Francisco World Spirits Competition judge), Angie Jackson of Ultimate Elixirs, THE TASTING PANEL’s Meridith May and Anthony Dias Blue and spirits expert Sean Ludford. The Chicago Competitors “Redhead Redemption” Inspiration: Sarah’s version of the Red-Headed Slut. “HARLEM elevates the spirit of this drink,” Sarah Busen says. “As a red-head, I was expected to make this drink over and again: I thought I should have my own take on it.” Ingredients: HARLEM, pome- granate juice, peach nectar, Mathilde cassis liqueur. “Bloemenstad” Inspiration: “The city of Haarlem in Holland is known as the City of Flowers, or Bloemenstad in Dutch,” says bartender Jaime Koeppler. Ingredients: Using Pagès Crème de Violette, a housemade hibiscus flower liqueur, chamomile infused with flower honey and a foam made of dehydrated orange curaçao, flowers did indeed come through on the palate. “Harlito” Inspiration: “This goes back to an old college drinking story,” claims Adam Porte, who, while studying abroad, got into a certain herbal liqueur. “I thought I would get creative, change up the base spirit, and play off the Mojito.” Ingredients: The alteration to the standard recipe was to replace rum with HARLEM and spice up the simple syrup with a ginger-orange twist. Sarah Busen from Tiny Lounge in Chicago. Jaime Koeppler from Madisons Downtown (Wisconsin). Adam Porte of The Fifty/50 in Chicago’s Wicker Park. october 2010 / the tasting panel / 91