On Friday evening, Amsterdam Rhino hosted the Gibson’s Iron Bar competition – the quest to find the official cocktail of the 2008 Grey Cup.
Four gifted mixologists, Luis Perez from Raw Bar, Franz Swinton from Raw Bar, Andrea Polasek from Amsterdam Rhino and Patrick Potter from Amsterdam Rhino all competed for the $500 prize and a chance to compete against Canada’s finest at the Iron Bar finals in Montreal.
As part of the evening’s itinerary, guests tasted last year’s national winner, ‘The Kicker,’ and nosed Gibson’s Finest Sterling, Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old and Gibson’s Rare 18 Year Old Canadian Whiskeys alongside expert and enthusiast, Bruce Mackenzie.
The competition was hosted by Willow Park Wines & Spirits’ Michael Bigattini, with local media personalities Bob Sumner, Käthe Lemon, Candice Vallantin and Eric Rumble as judges. In the end, Raw Bar’s Franz Swinton took home the title as Calgary’s best.
Check out the original release, grab the recipe for ‘The Kicker,’ and find out more about the Iron Bar competition, after the jump.
The original release:
Media Advisory
Your Team May Not Win the Grey Cup®
But Your City’s Finest Bartender May Be Bringing Home The Gibson’s Cup
What: Football fans and whisky drinkers across the country will be cheering on their favourite bartenders in the Gibson’s Iron Bar Competition. Beginning this October, every city that has a CFL team will host a competition featuring cocktails made from Gibson’s Finest Canadian Whisky and a top-secret ingredient. A panel of food and drink connoisseurs and sports experts will judge the winning cocktail.
Who: Your city’s hottest bartenders will vie, Iron Chef style, for the chance to come to Montreal and compete in the final Iron Bar competition held during Grey Cup Week. The Iron Bar Champion will receive $1000 or tickets to the 2008 Grey Cup® game and their drink will be crowned the “Gibson’s Cup”.
When: Friday, October 10, 2008
6:00pm
Where: Amsterdam Rhino, 607 11 Avenue SWNotes: A tasting and nosing of the Gibson’s Finest Sterling Canadian Whisky, Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old and Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Year Old will be held.
Gibson’s Finest is among the top five leading brands in the growing premium and deluxe Canadian whisky categories. The brand range consists of Gibson’s Sterling, blended whisky; Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old, a benchmark premium Canadian whisky; and, Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Year Old, one of the longest aged Canadian whiskies. Gibson’s Finest Canadian Whiskies are available across Canada.
To RSVP or for more information about the Gibson’s Iron Bar Competition, please contact:
Iona Yeung
Jesson Artmont Communications Inc.
The Kicker is a tasty afternoon treat, here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. Gibson’s Finest Canadian Whisky
Juice of 1/8 fresh lime
4 oz. ginger beer
Method:
Fill glass with ice. Add 1 1/2 oz. of Gibson’s Finest Canadian Whisky, the juice of 1/8 fresh lime and top with ginger beer. Stir to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve with beer nuts.
To see the Gibson’s Iron Bar challenge results from the previous Vancouver event, check out our notes, HERE.
Calgary event, post release:
Edmonton event, post release: