Louis Royer Cognac: Show Me the Proof!

Louis Royer, makers of cognac supreme, featured their 53º Force spirit in a recent cocktail competition hosted by Hanna Lee Communications. Fortuitously, I was hired to design the graphics for the “Show Me the Proof” contest and got to sample the goods. Alone, it is already special, but I experimented adding Vitamin Water Essential (the orange flavor) and passion fruit juice and topping with prosecco for my personal test. On September the official competition was held with mixologists from around the US at Rayuela on the lower east side. Creativity sparkled, and here are the delicious results below.

 

First Prize, a 2-week trip to France went to Tim Cooper of Gold Bar, for his cocktail Bouquet, designed for late summer to fall sipping.
BOUQUET
1 1/2 oz. Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac
1 oz. Lustau Oloroso Sherry
1/2 oz. Velvet Falernum (a rum-based liqueur)
1/2 oz. lemon juice
Barspoon of Grade “B” maple syrup
Place all ingredients in a mixing glass and shake with ice. Strain into a double rocks glass over a large piece of ice. Garnish with pear “fan” (3 thin slices of pear)

 Second Prize of $1000 went to Franky Marshall of The Tippler and Monkey Bar for 53 Souvenirs, a wintery mix.
53 SOUVENIRS
1 1/2 oz. Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac
1/2 oz. Lustau Pedro Ximénez Sherry
4 drops “A l’Olivier” Walnut Oil
2 dashes Miracle Mile Chocolate Chili Bitters
1 dash of Angostura Bitters
Add all ingredients to mixing glass. Stir to integrate. Add ice, and stir again until proper dilution is reached. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over 1 large cube of ice. Optional garnish:  lemon twist.

Third Prize of $1000 went to Lynnette Marrero of Astor Room for Ma Cherie Amour, who was inspired by autunn flavors.
MA CHERIE AMOUR
1 3/4 oz. Louis Royer “Force 53” VSOP Cognac
1/2 oz. “Marques de Rodil” Especial Palo Cortado Sherry
3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Cherry Jam
2 dashes of Pimento Bitters
Place all ingredients in a shaker with 3 Kold-Draft ice cubes. Shake and strain over crushed ice. Garnish with orange twist and cherry.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Mitchell Photography, and event photos by Belathee Photography courtesy of Hanna Lee Communications

 postcard graphics, step and repeat, and giant check graphics by Ellen Swandiak