Sherry Wine News

The 2016 U.S. Sherry Cocktail Competition is on!

CALLING ALL U.S. BARTENDERS! The U.S. Sherry Cocktail Competition is back for 2016 and we are now accepting entries to find America’s best Sherry cocktail! Submit yours for a chance to win an all expenses paid trip to Jerez, Spain.

Sherry in cocktails is not a new idea. In fact, Sherry was one of the ingredients used in some of the first cocktails ever created, and it has inspired a number of classic cocktails. Now we're on the hunt for the next best Sherry cocktail being served in the United States today. Do you have one that you're particularly proud of? Enter it now!

Of course, there are some rules. You may use any style of Sherry from any bodega in Jerez but each entry must be featured on a restaurant or bar cocktail program. Sound good?

To enter your cocktail, we'll need to know:

-- the precise recipe
-- the proper garnish
-- the ideal glass

You must explain in writing:

-- why your cocktail is great
-- when to serve and how
-- the exact preparation and steps of assembly
-- the perfect [bar] food match, and why

You must provide:

-- a copy of the cocktail menu of the bar/restaurant where the cocktail is placed and being served
-- a photo of the drink
-- a video of yourself making the drink and explaining why your cocktail is great, when to serve, exact preparation, and the perfect food match; please post it using #SherryCC16

You can submit your recipes at any time, but the deadline for entry is Saturday, August 20th, 2016 and at stake is a spot on Steve Olson’s coveted Jerez trip to tour bodegas and take in the best that Andalucía has to offer, as well as a scholarship to the highly-acclaimed Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) 5-day Program in New York City.

2005 - “La Perla” by Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tres Agaves, San Francisco, CA 1 of 7

2007 - “Madroño (Strawberry Bush) Cobbler” by Giuseppe Gonzalez, Flatiron Lounge, New York, NY 2 of 7

2008 - “Sherry Shrub” by Neyah White, NOPA, San Francisco, CA 3 of 7

2011 - “The Cadizian” by Brendan Dorr, B&O American Brasserie, Baltimore, MD 4 of 7

2013 - “Ciclope” by Eric Simpkins, The Lawrence, Atlanta, GA 5 of 7

2014 - "The Pyrenees" by Lacy Hawkins, Clover Club in Brooklyn, NY and ingredients 6 of 7

2015 - "Broken Spanish" by Pietro Collina, NoMad in New York, NY 7 of 7

The US Sherry Cocktail Competition is a nationwide competition of bartenders/mixologists who are challenged to create the best Sherry cocktail in America. It was designed to showcase the incredible diversity of Sherry wine and it’s remarkable ability for use in cocktails and matching with food. Past winners include:

2015 - Pietro Collina, NoMad in New York, NY - “Broken Spanish”
2014 - Lacy Hawkins, Clover Club in Brooklyn, NY - “The Pyrenees”
2013 - Eric Simpkins, The Lawrence, Atlanta, GA — “Ciclope”
2012 - Dan Nicolaescu, Mayahuel in New York, NY – “After Dark Cocktail”
2011 - Brendan Dorr, B&O American Brasserie, Baltimore – “The Cadizian”
2009 - Charles Joly, Drawing Room, Chicago – “Bread and Wine”
2008 - Neyah White, NOPA, San Francisco — “Sherry Shrub”
2007 - Giuseppe Gonzalez, Flatiron Lounge, New York, NY — “Madroño (Strawberry Bush) Cobbler”
2005 - Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tres Agaves, San Francisco — “La Perla”

For these cocktail recipes and more, check out the Sherry Cocktail section of Sherry.wine, or to see this year’s submissions, use the hashtag #SherryCC16 on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter.

Good luck to all!

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