Don Q, Puerto Rico’s premium rum, is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 Ultimate Mix Off Finals, a mixology competition supported by the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG).  Mixologists from across the country competed in the Ultimate Mix Off Finals at the Andaz Hotel on Saturday, May 12th. The top five finalists received a trip to Puerto Rico, VIP tour of Destilería Serrallés in Ponce and will be featured in Don Q’s holiday mixology video.

1.    Dev Johnson from Employees Only in New York took first place with his winning cocktail: “The Jones Act”
2.    Julio Cabrera from Miami took second place with: “Sandia del Batey”
3.    J.R. Starkus from Las Vegas took third with: “Lonely Planet”
4.    Sheridan Fay from Houston took fourth with: “Coqui Monster”
5.    Nicole Tyler from Reno placed fifth with: “Rico Suave”

The esteemed judging panel was comprised of rum industry leaders, chefs and mixologists, including:

Francesco Lafranconi (Executive Director of mixology at Southern Wine & Spirits – Nevada)
David Nepove (Director of mixology at Southern Wine & Spirits – California, USBG National President)
Hiram Avila (2010 Ultimate Mix Off winner, Puerto Rico)
Giuseppe Gonzalez (head mixologist at Julie Reiner’s Clover Club in Brooklyn)
Ian Burrell (Founder of UK Rumfest)
Roberto Serrallés (VP at Destileria Serralles)
Igor Hadzismajlovic (Founding Father of Employees Only and Macao Trading Company).
Chris Milligan (Mixologist and journalist at Santa Fe Barman/Forbes.com)

The Jones Act Recipe:

1½ oz. Don Q Añejo rum
1½ oz. Llopart Brut Cava Rose
½ oz. Cherry Heering liqueur
½ oz. Marie Brizzard Crème de Cacao (Brown)
½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1  Lime wheel
1 Bunch of Fresh mint

Pour the rose into a chilled cocktail glass. In a shaker tin, add rum, lime juice, liqueur, brown crème de cacao and ice, then shake. Strain into the cava filled cocktail glass. Garnish with the stem of the mint top pushed through the center of the lime wheel.Congrats to all the participants – I’m mad at myself for missing this event as the winning recipe looks delicious! Cheers!