The Tasting Panel magazine

August 2017

Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/856981

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 117 of 136

august 2017  /  the tasting panel  /  1 13 COCKTAIL COMPETITIONS SANDEMAN PORTO SLIPS INTO ITS SUMMER SKIN by Becky Tsadik / photos by Hardy Wilson News flash: Port is so much more than a cozy winter sipper. This summer, San Francisco Bay Area bartenders, bar chefs and mixologists proved that Port can shine in a variety of summer cocktails in a competition sponsored by The House of Sandeman. "These Bay Area bartenders and mixologists really rose to the challenge, not only for the love of the craft, but for the love of neighbors in their community––as the competition benefits Project Open Hand," says Anna Budarina, Sandeman Brand Account Manager, Pernod Ricard USA. "Not only did we have a tremendous level of participation, but the drinks were amaz- ing! And the six finalists who made it to the final round proved to be the best of the best." Six contestants moved onto the final round, a timed competition in the San Francisco's Financial District, in front of judges Becky Tsadik, Events Director, The Tasting Panel; Chris Tunstall, Consultant & Mixologist, A Bar Above, and Tara Blake, Marketing Communications Officer, Project Open Hand. Cocktails were judged on taste, originality, presentation and response to the challenge of creating a Port cocktail for the summer season. The winning cocktail and bartender was flown to New Orleans to be featured at a Sandeman dinner at Tales of the Cocktail. (Pick up the September issue of The Tasting Panel for a recap of this activation!) Out of one of the world's oldest, most established wine regions, Porto wine dates back to 1756. Shortly afterward, Sandeman was founded, in 1790 (see sidebar on page 117). Situated in the Douro Valley, Sandeman's Quinta do Seixo estate is home to wooden casks containing wines that have been aging for two centuries. The brand has grown to include more than a dozen award-winning varieties, including Sandeman Porto Ruby Founder's Reserve, the number-one- selling Port in the United States. For the San Francisco compe- tition, bartenders used either the rich ruby red Sandeman Ruby or golden amber Sandeman Tawny Port, aged in small oak casks. Many drew on the heritage of the brand and the production processes as inspiration for their cocktails. Shaking up San Francisco The judges for the Sandeman San Francisco Port Cocktail Competition (left to right): Becky Tsadik, Events Director, The Tasting Panel; Chris Tunstall, Consultant & Mixologist, A Bar Above, and Tara Blake, Marketing Communications Officer, Project Open Hand.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Tasting Panel magazine - August 2017