Woodford Reserve and Esquire Magazine Crown “Master of the Manhattan”

The wait is over…the perfect Manhattan Cocktail recipe has been found!

Woodford Reserve tells BourbonBlog.com that after searching the country for the nation’s ultimate well-crafted Manhattans, Woodford Reserve bourbon and Esquire magazine have crowned Marcelo Nascimento from Austin, Texas and his “Voodoo Manhattan” as the “Master of the Manhattan” for 2011.

Winning recipe below.

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Voodoo Manhattan crafted by Marcelo Nascimento

2½ oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
½ oz. Amaro Averna
½ oz. Clément Créole Shrubb
½ bar spoon of Pink peppercorns

Garnish with skewered blood orange supremes and inflamed orange peel

Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Esquire Magazine Crown Marcelo Nascimento Master of Manhattan Winner 2011

Nascimento’s cocktail was reviewed by a distinguished panel of experts along with the 10 other bartenders creations from across the country. Nascimento and the other participant’s cocktails were critiqued on creativity, ingredients, presentation and taste. The judges included Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris, spirits journalist Paul Pacult, Whiskycast creator Mark Gillespie, and Douglass Miller from the Culinary Institute of America. The judging took place at The Manhattan Experience at Top of the Standard in New York City this week.

“There was some stiff competition from the other bartenders and I didn’t expect to win, but the judges told me they thought my drink really stood out,” Nascimento tells BourbonBlog.com.  “The whole time in New York was exceptional and I want to thank Woodford Reserve and Esquire for an amazing experience.”

The Voodoo Manhattan along with the other 10 recipes will be featured in a Woodford Reserve advertisement in the February edition of Esquire.