Hanna Lee Communications Announces the Second Annual "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition Featuring Louis Royer Cognac -- May 15 through August 31, 2013

NEW YORK, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanna Lee Communications, Inc., an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, food, wine, and lifestyle PR and social media marketing, today announces its second annual "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition for professional bartenders and mixologists.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130515/FL14894 )

The competition will celebrate Louis Royer "Force 53" VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac, which at 106 proof is one of the highest proof Cognacs in the U.S. market today, and demonstrate its versatility in a wide range of cocktails that are suitable for any time of year.  Bartenders are encouraged to submit up to two recipes that represent their favorite seasons.  The cocktail development guidelines and submission forms are listed on www.shakestir.com/louisroyer.  Recipes may be submitted from May 15 through August 31, 2013.

A total of 12 finalists will compete in New York City on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 and demonstrate their cocktails before a distinguished judging panel:

• Paul Pacult - Noted spirits critic and publisher/editor of The Spirit Journal
• Dale DeGroff - Legendary mixologist and founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail
• Steve Olson - Founder of aka wine geek and renowned spirits, wine and cocktail expert
• Jack Robertiello - Widely-respected spirits and cocktail writer
• Sara Gore - Host of "Open House" and "New York Live" on NBC and former professional cook
• Tim Cooper - Mixologist at GoldBar and Grand Prize winner of the first "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition
• Jerome Royer - Louis Royer Cognac's Master Selector and a fifth-generation family member

The competition's Grand Prize includes a one-week, educational trip to France to visit Louis Royer Cognac's cellars in Jarnac and experience the Fete du Cognac Festival, as well as two nights in Paris to enjoy the sophisticated city's take on cocktail culture.  Second and third place winners will each win a cash prize of $1,000.

"During our first competition last year, more than 100 outstanding cocktail recipes were submitted.  It really proved that bartenders are embracing overproof Cognac," said Hanna Lee, President and Founder, Hanna Lee Communications.  "We are proud that Louis Royer 'Force 53' VSOP Cognac, with its robust flavor profile, helped ignite this phenomenon that has spurred so much excitement in the drinks world.  Given that the high proof spirits trend continues to gain momentum among bartenders, we're expecting a vibrant creative outpouring."

Last year's inaugural "Show Me the Proof!" High Proof Cognac Cocktail Competition generated notice well beyond the bartending and cocktails community.  It earned a Communicator Award in the Publicity category for its coverage by the Wall Street Journal in the article titled, "Make Mine a Single: The Rise of Stronger Spirits" by Charles Passy, as well as awards in the Branded Content and Online Video categories for the "Show Me the Proof!" event video produced by New York Insider Productions.  The awards are among the most respected and sought-after in the marketing and communications fields, attracting thousands of entries from all over the world.  They are sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of Visual Arts.

The competition's partner is ShakeStir.com, a leading online community for bartenders and mixologists.

For more information on Louis Royer Cognac, please visit www.louis-royer.com.

About Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, Hanna Lee Communications, Inc. is an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, wine, food, travel, and lifestyle PR and social media marketing.  The agency only represents products and companies that it is passionate about.  This outlook drives its well-acknowledged excellence. 

The agency has created a number of successful PR case studies that have earned recognition from prestigious national and international organizations that include the PR News' Platinum Awards, PRWeek Awards, SABRE Awards, PRSA-NY's Big Apple Awards, The Communicator Awards and The Bulldog Awards. 

Hanna Lee Communications' client experience includes the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, Louis Royer Cognac, Santa Teresa Rum, The Dead Rabbit, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Atsby New York Vermouth, Pisco Control, Leblon Cachaca, Sobieski Vodka, Marie Brizard Liqueurs, Michael's New York, MONO+MONO Restaurant, Forcella Pizza Restaurant Group, Rayuela Restaurant, Macondo Latin Tapas Bar, Japan Week, Mionetto Prosecco Wines, Wines of Croatia, Terra Andina Chilean Wines, G7 Portuguese Wine Consortium, and others.

For more information, please visit www.hannaleecommunications.com, "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HannaLeeCommunications and follow us on Twitter at @hannaleenyc.

Media Contacts:
Hanna Lee or Jen Neugeboren
Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.
[email protected]
[email protected]

SOURCE Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.

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