Domaine De Canton's Prestigious 2010-2011 Bartender Of The Year Competition Submissions Close At Midnight December 1st

Maurice Cooper et Cie, producer and importer of Domaine de Canton, the world's first super-premium ginger liqueur, will close submissions for its prestigious Bartender of the Year Competition for the best original Domaine de Canton cocktail recipe at midnight on December 1, 2010. Now in its third year, Domaine de Canton's Bartender of the Year Competition is considered the pinnacle of bartender competitions for artisan mixologists thanks to the $10,000 grand prize, finals in French St. Martin, and the premium quality of the liqueur used as the primary ingredient in the winning recipe.

One bartender from each of the following twenty cities and surrounding regions will advance to the finals: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. Applicants from the six cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Miami, New York and Denver will compete in live, semi-final rounds in January. The finalists in the remaining 14 cities will be selected by Domaine de Canton based on the original online submissions. Finals will be held in French St. Martin in late May at La Samanna Luxury Resort and Spa, recently named one of the "Best Places to Stay" in North America in the Conde Nast Traveler reader's poll.

"We're thrilled with the overwhelming response to our call for recipes that best express the extraordinary qualities of ginger, fine Cognac and premium ingredients in a cocktail," says Domaine de Canton creator and Maurice Cooper et Cie founder John Cooper. "I'm looking forward to the finals, when the creativity found in the new rising tide of artisan mixologists is allowed to really shine with unprecedented combinations."

"The Domaine de Canton Bartender of the Year competition was an incredible experience," says winner of the 2010 Domaine de Canton Bartender of the Year Competition, Sean Kenyon of Steuben's Food Service and Vesta Dipping Grill in Denver, CO. "An amazing group of the most talented bartenders from all over the United States gathered in a beautiful tropical setting to create mind-blowing cocktails. Everyone left their egos at home-the sense of community, along with the memories and connections we made, were priceless," he adds.

Bartenders employed by a commercial bar or food service establishment are encouraged to apply by clicking on the following link: http://domainedecanton.com/bartender-of-the-year/. Criteria for recipe selection and official rules can be found at http://domainedecanton.com/bartender-of-the-year/bartender-year-rules.html.

About Domaine de Canton

Domaine de Canton, launched in 2008 by Maurice Cooper et Cie as the world's first super-premium ginger liqueur, continues its ascent in popularity as more and more mixologists-and celebrity chefs-embrace the elixir's fresh, vibrant flavor and smooth profile as a key ingredient in cocktails and fine cuisine. Bursting with the fresh essence of baby Vietnamese ginger fortified with the finest eaux de vie and Cognac, Domaine de Canton stands to become one of the most exciting top shelf brands in the home bartender's collection and in the foodie's pantry today-not to mention an ideal hostess gift from savvy guests hoping for a repeat invitation. The liqueur, which is hand-crafted in small lots by artisan blender Jean Francois Bardou in the heart of France's Cognac region, has a suggested retail price of $32 per 750 ml bottle, and is sold at fine wine and liquor stores throughout the United States. It is also distributed in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Holland, Hong Kong, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Spain