THE CATDADDY BAR CHEF CHALLENGE

MADISON, N.C.  – - Piedmont Distillers, a craft distillery in Madison, North Carolina, is challenging mixologists across the country to create the best Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine cocktail.  The Catdaddy Bar Chef Challenge will culminate in the Piedmont Distillers’ Tasting Room at Tales of the Cocktail on July 22, 2010.  The Top 3 Finalist will present their cocktails to the Judging Panel; Dale DeGroff, Joe Michalek (Founder of Piedmont Distillers), Paul Tuennerman and Alan Kropf & Jeff Dorenbush of Mutineer Magazine.  This panel will select the winner of the coveted Golden Mason Jar trophy.  Tasting Room attendees will vote for the People’s Choice cocktail and the winner of the Moonshine Still trophy.  All of the Top 3 Finalists will receive a 2 night stay at the legendary Hotel Monteleone, six complimentary tickets to Tales of the Cocktail seminars and $500.  In addition, the Top 3 Recipes will be featured in an upcoming issue of Mutineer Magazine.

Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine is one of the most unique spirits available today.  Every batch is born in a copper still and is handcrafted in very small batches.  Catdaddy is made from American corn and triple distilled to deliver an ultra-smooth drinking experience.  Catdaddy’s one-of-a-kind flavor comes from a secret recipe using ingredients not found in any other spirit.  Joe Michalek, Founder and President of Piedmont Distillers, won’t tell you what’s in it, but he will tell you the taste is a little sweet, with a hint of spice.  Michalek says, “It’s fun to watch someone try Catdaddy for the first time.  The response is usually the same.  First they’ll say, “Wow, that’s good”, then “It’s really smooth” and finally, “What is that taste?”  The taste is familiar, but people can’t put their finger on it.  All they know is that they like it.”

Catdaddy has been embraced by mixologists who want to create signature cocktails.  From Los Angeles, to Seattle, to New York, to New Orleans and beyond, mixologists have found that Catdaddy’s distinctive taste brings a flavor complexity that’s unmatched by any other spirit and is the perfect complement to traditional and original cocktails alike.  The Catdaddy Bar Chef Challenge gives mixologists an opportunity to show off their cocktail creation prowess and explore the many uses of Catdaddy.

The Catdaddy Bar Chef Challenge is open to both professional and amateur mixologists.  The recipe submission deadline is May 10, 2010.  The Top 3 Finalists will be announced on June 4, 2010.  To learn more or to submit a recipe, please visit www.catdaddymoonshine.com/barchefchallenge.

Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine is available in liquor stores, bars and restaurants in 19 states; Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington State and West Virginia.  In addition, Catdaddy will available in New York and Texas in May.

Piedmont Distillers is a small operation, with fewer than ten employees.  The distillery is located in Madison, N.C., (population 2000) in the town’s former train station built in 1915.  Piedmont Distillers is committed to preserving the moonshining legacy and distilling traditions that have made North Carolina the “Moonshine Capital of the World.”  Coupling these traditions with one-of-a-kind recipes and a state-of-the-art distillation process has enabled Piedmont Distillers’ spirits to transcend moonshine from the backwoods, to be amongst the finest spirits available anywhere. For more information, please visit www.piedmontdistillers.com.