PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur Announces Grand Prize Winner of the First-Ever "Are You Indispensable?" Cocktail Competition: Ryan Gannon (Cure, New Orleans)

NEW YORK, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, the original, all-natural pomegranate liqueur, today announces the winners of the first-ever "Are You Indispensable?" Cocktail Competition.  The grand prize winner is Ryan Gannon (Cure, New Orleans), who received a cash prize of $5,000 for his Law Abiding Citizen cocktail that combined PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, sherry and lemon juice.  The competition celebrated PAMA as the indispensable modifier that integrates and elevates base spirits and cocktail ingredients.  It attracted 242 submissions from bartenders in 30 states.

"We salute our competition's winners and their ingenious cocktails that demonstrate how PAMA is an indispensable ingredient in the mixologist's arsenal," says Lynn House, PAMA National Brand Ambassador, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.  "It was truly inspiring to see bartenders from across the country bring their 'A' game and prepare a new generation of thoughtful and creative PAMA cocktails.  Bartenders are truly an indispensable part of our industry and we celebrate them."

"PAMA and sherry marry beautifully together in Ryan's cocktail and allow for PAMA's unique sweet yet tart flavor profile to shine," adds House.  "It is a very well-balanced cocktail with notes of fruitiness and nuttiness.  It is light and refreshing."

"As a fan of PAMA, I was honored to be selected as a finalist and I enjoyed watching and rooting for my fellow contestants.  Winning the PAMA competition was the cherry on top and I'm grateful," says Gannon.  "PAMA gracefully united and enriched my ingredients and took the cocktail to the next level."

The competition's second place and third place winners are Theo Lieberman (Milk & Honey, NYC) and Julia Momose (The Aviary, Chicago), who won $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

The final competition was held at PLAY, a cocktail den located at the Museum of Sex in New York.  It was judged by renowned spirits and cocktail authorities:

• Paul Pacult – Noted spirits critic and publisher/editor of The Spirit Journal
• Steve Olson – Founder of aka wine geek and renowned spirits, wine and cocktail expert
• Julie Reiner – Doyenne of cocktails and owner of Flatiron Lounge and Clover Club
• Eben Freeman – Director of Bar Operations and Innovation at the Alta Marea Group
• Kate Shapira Latts – Vice President of Marketing and a member of the third generation of the family behind Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the parent company of PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur

The winning cocktail recipes are as follows:

Grand Prize: Ryan Gannon, Cure, New Orleans
Law Abiding Citizen
¾ oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
1 ½ oz Hidalgo Napoleon Amontillado Sherry
¾ oz lemon juice
¼ oz simple syrup (1:1)
Shake and double-strain into a coupe.  Garnish with 4 drops Bittermens Tiki Bitters.

Second Place: Theo Lieberman, Milk & Honey, New York
The Hammond
1 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
1 oz Santa Teresa "1796" Solera Aged Rum
1 oz Atsby Amberthorn Vermouth
2 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir. Strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange zest.

Third Place: Julia Momose, The Aviary, Chicago
Demeter
½ oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
2 oz Lunazul Reposado Tequila
½ oz Campari
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass.  Add ice and stir.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Finish with lime zest expressed over the glass and garnished.

The competition's partner is ShakeStir.com, a leading online community for bartenders and mixologists.  It was hosted by Hanna Lee Communications, Inc., an award-winning agency specialized in spirits, food, wine, and lifestyle PR and social media marketing. 

About PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
The original, all-natural pomegranate liqueur, PAMA is the indispensable modifier that brightens cocktails and elevates them from the everyday to modern classics.  By providing a delicately balanced sweet-tart flavor, silky texture and a vibrant ruby-red color, PAMA mixes exceptionally well with all spirits, both clear and aged, in cocktails ranging from aperitifs to nightcaps.  PAMA's unmatched versatility helps transform aspiring home bartenders and seasoned mixologists alike into bar stars.  For more information, please visit www.pamaliqueur.com and www.pamapros.com, "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pamaliqueur and follow us on Twitter at @PAMAPros.

Media Contacts:
Hanna Lee or Jen Neugeboren
Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.
212-527-9969 (office) / 646-752-1526 (cell)
[email protected]
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140331/CL93030

SOURCE PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur