This year’s Not Your Pink Drink contest was held on Nov. 10 in Louisville, Ky., with a cocktail from Atlanta taking the top prize in the Professional Division. 

The event, sponsored by Beam-Suntory’s James B. Beam Distilling Co and Maker’s Mark, encouraged both professional and amateur mixologists to create a cocktail that embodied the adventurous spirit of Bourbon Women and celebrated bourbon. Five amateur and five professional competitors were selected to present their best cocktail to judges and attendees to see who in each category had the best Not Your Pink Drink. 

The Professional Division winner was first-time competitor Ramona Jackson, the so-called “Bourbon Bohemian of Atlanta,” who won with her cocktail Pom Beam Sizzle: Jim Beam Black with pomegranate juice, and ghost pepper-rose-sage simple.  Her simple syrup was built on a base with rose water to create a complex and unique cocktail topped with a delicious foam. 

The Amateur Division winner, Krysia Rodak, won with her cocktail Falling for You, featuring Basil Hayden, apple brandy, chestnut syrup and bitters. Her use of chestnuts brought out all the flavors of fall in each sip.  

Pom Beam Sizzle Full Recipe: 

• 1 1/2 oz Jim Beam Black 
• 3/4 oz Pomegranate juice 
• 3/4 oz Ghost Rose Sage Simple Syrup (Combine 4 oz sugar, 4 oz hot water, 1/4 de-seeded ghost 
• pepper, 4 tbsp dried rose. Steep and strain.) 
• 1/4 oz lemon juice 
• 3/4 oz pasteurized egg white 
• Add whiskey, juice, simple, lemon juice, and ice to the shaker. Shake vigorously until chilled and strain into a shaker. Discard ice and add egg white. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe and garnish with ghost pepper, sage, and pomegranate. 

Falling For You Full Recipe: 

• 1 1/2 oz Basil Hayden 
• 1/2 oz Apple Brandy (I used Copper & Kings) 
• 1/2 oz Chestnut Syrup (see recipe below) 
• 2 – 3 dashes Chocolate Bitters (I used Scrappy’s) 
• Orange Spritz/Orange Twist 
• Build in the glass, over one large clear ice cube. Place all ingredients (excluding orange twist) in a glass with a large ice cube, and stir. Wipe the rim of the glass with orange rind, and express over the drink/spray with orange spritz. 

** Chestnut Syrup Recipe 

• 1 1/2 cups water 
• 1 cup Demerara/Turbinado sugar 
• 1 cup pre-peeled/roasted chestnuts * 
• 1 cinnamon stick 
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg 
• Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Fine strain, add a dash of apple brandy. Let cool and store in fridge.