Michael Jones of Seven Lamps Named 2013 Merlet Sidecar Champion

Photo by Eduardo Simeon

Seven Lamps bartender Michael Jones has been crowned the 2013 Merlet Sidecar Cocktail champion at this year's "Tales of the Cocktail" event in New Orleans on July 20. There was stiff competition from bartenders who were asked to create two different drinks using Merlet Cognac and another spirit from the Merlet collection - one celebrating the classic spirit of the sidecar and the other a drink entirely of their own creation. Merlet liqueurs took center stage in Jones' winning drinkings - the Cuvee du Merlet and the Brennus Suppressor #3 - earning him and a guest a trip to Paris and the Borderies/Fins Bois French countryside area of Cognac to visit the Merlet distillery, spend time with the Merlet family and learn how to distill Cognac. Congratulations, Michael!