Sable mixologist Alex Renshaw at Untitled on Sunday after his big Cointreau win. (Photos: Jeff Schear/Wire Image)
Remy Cointreau had its regional finals in Chicago Sunday to select one mixologist to go to New York to compete in the first-ever The Audition Event. The winner will serve as Cointreau Ambassador of Libations at Cannes Film Festival in 2013.
Held at speakeasy-style restaurant and lounge Untitled, the contest featured five Chicago-based bartenders and one from Michigan. The event was twofold: Earlier in the evening, guests and judges did a walk-around tasting of the contestants' Saint-Tropez-themed cocktails, followed by an "Iron Chef"-style competition where bartenders were challenged to create a cocktail using a secret ingredient.
So fitting was the secret ingredient "honey" as September just happens to be National Honey Month! Sable Kitchen & Bar 'tender Alex Renshaw was the judges' overall favorite, so he's on his way to the Big Apple. Ada Street's Joseph Haggard was named "fan favorite."