Countdown To 2012 RAMMY Awards Begins W/ Month-Long Cocktail Promotion!

PENN QUARTER -- With only a few short weeks remaining until the 2012 RAMMY Awards, which honors the accomplishments and talent of the District’s restaurant and beverage communities, anticipation is building among area foodies and industry-types alike.

Four of the five 2012 RAMMY cocktails.
Helping fuel the enthusiasm, the five nominees in the “Beverage/Mixology Program of the Year” category, at this year’s gala, have teamed together to host a month-long cocktail promotion where consumers can come into nominated restaurants and order their signature RAMMY cocktail for a chance to win two tickets to the annual gala on June 24th.

The making of ChurchKey’s cocktail.
And on Monday evening, members of the press were provided with an exclusive tasting of four of the five specialty cocktails on the top floor of Chef Mike Isabella’s Graffiato restaurant in Penn Quarter.

A little spice of life being added to Room 11’s libation.
The five nominees for 2012 and their respective RAMMY cocktails are as follows:

Bourbon Steak: Mixologist Duane Sylvestre’s cocktail is made with Red Stag Bourbon, cold black tea, housemade sarsaparilla syrup, and fresh lemon. ‘The Huntress’ is served in an absinthe-rinsed glass and garnished with a lemon twist.
ChurchKey: Beer Master Greg Engert’s ‘Farmhouse Punch’ combines both brews and booze with a mixture of Russian Standard Vodka, Pernod Ricard Absinthe, lemon juice, grapefruit juice and peppercorn syrup with Rayon Vert, a Belgian-style Pale Ale from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Estadio: Mixologist Adam Bernbach ’s ‘Día de Descanso’ (meaning ‘Day of Rest’ in Spanish) pairs Beefeater 24 Gin, housemade saffron and grapefruit syrup, fresh lime juice and sparkling wine. When garnished with lime and mint, the refreshing cocktail is a welcome libation on a warm summer day.
EatGoodFood Group: Restaurant Eve and PX Mixologist/Bar Master Todd Thrasher has concocted a creative punch bowl cocktail for the contest. The ‘42 and Cloudy’ is made-up of 12 ingredients, including Cruzan White Rum, honey vodka, passion vodka, Sazerac rye, Brandy, New Zealand sauvignon blanc, sencha green tea, water, passion fruit juice, fresh lemon juice, Luxardo cherries and Champagne to taste.
Room 11: Room 11 General Manager Jess Woods has created a ‘Chaos Theory’ summertime blend consisting of Citra hop-infused Sauza Hornitos tequila, grapefruit, and Tripel Karmeliet.

After filling out an information card, diners who purchase a RAMMY cocktail at any of the five restaurants until June 18th will be eligible to win two tickets to the RAMMY gala on June 24th. A winner will be chosen at random on June 18th at the end of the promotion.

Estadio Mixologist Adam Bernbach demonstrates proper drinking technique.
Hats off to drinking (responsibly)!