Grand Tasting

Cheers, Nov, 2000

Cheers hosts the Grand Marnier Independent Cocktail Awards

Where's the next Cosmopolitan coming from? Who will whip up the successor to the Sour Apple Martini for cocktail du jour? Spirits suppliers are avidly searching for the newest thing, having tumbled to the fact that bartenders can help them hit the jackpot with a great tasting, great looking new concoction. Grand Marnier each year has been searching through New York City's restaurants, bars and nightclubs for the latest and the greatest mixological creation employing their favorite orange-flavored cognac.

This year's search, part of Grand Marnier's annual support of the celebrated New York Film Festival, brought in hundreds of recipes, culled from barkeeps throughout the city and metropolitan area. Two cocktails came up as winners in the finals, as determined by judges and guests: Alex Guerrero, Jr.'s The Grand Martini won the judges nod for best of the best, while invited guests acclaimed JeanPhillipe O'Neill's Green Monkey.

Co-sponsored by Cheers, the search for the independent cocktail award winner came down to a public tasteoff by some of New York's best-placed beverage professionals. Joining well-known beverage maven Steve Olson and Cheers editor Jack Robertiello in the arduous tasting were Windows on the World's Melissa Trumbull, corporate wine director of B. R. Guest (Atlantic Grill, Ruby Foo's and other NYC spots) Cindy Renzi, and Nick de Seve, wine director of the Smith & Wollensky Group (S&W, Maloney & Porcelli, Park Ave. Cafe and others).

The taste-off, held at Lincoln Center; drew a standing room-only crowd, including Grand Marnier rep Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle.

Grand Marnier Independent Cocktail Awards Winner

The Grand Martini

created by Alex Guerrero, Jr.

1 oz. Grand Marnier

2 oz. espresso

2 oz. Absolut Citron

1/4 tsp. granulated sugar

Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake, strain and serve in a Martini glass rimmed with sugar and garnished with an orange slice.

Grand Marnier People's Choice Award

The Green Monkey

created by Jean-Phillipe O'Neill

2 oz. Grand Marnier

2 oz. Absolut Mandrin

1/2 oz. Chambord

splash Midori

1/2 squeeze lime

Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon or lime.