Tales of the Cocktail chooses The Rickey for 2013 competition

Tales of the Cocktail is back with its yearly challenge for bartenders and mixologists – and this year the task is to reinterpret The Rickey, official cocktail of Washington DC.

The annual cocktail festival, which takes place from 17-21 July this year in New Orleans, US, has been running the competition to encourage bartenders to create a signature cocktail for the event for the past nine years. The winner will have their drink named as the official Tales of the Cocktail serve and pocket US$1,250 as well.

For 2013, entrants are invited to give their take on The Rickey, a drink dating from the late 1800s when bartender George A. Williamson at Shoomaker’s bar would rustle up a refreshing cocktail composed of a base spirit, half a lime and sparkling water for Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joseph Kyle Rickey.

“Every Tales of the Cocktail has a flavour all its own. This year, that flavour is The Rickey,” said Ann Tuennerman, founder of Tales of the Cocktail. “I can’t wait to sample everyone’s imaginative takes on such a storied drink.”

With just three rules for this year’s competition – the drink must be tart, it must be carbonated and it must be refreshing – the possibilities for invention and originality are endless.

Entry is open until 24 April, visit www.talesofthecocktail.com for more information.