Colin Joliat
Jameson is trying to retain their title as the top Movember fundraiser.
Most guys love an excuse to grow out their facial hair. The Stanley Cup Finals. A retro fireman Halloween costume. A bet with friends that you can’t physically grown connecting hair between your mustache and beard. And as of 2007 you could actually do some good with that lip tickler by way of Movember.
For those living without internet until today, Movember is when guys grow a mustache in November to raise awareness and money for men’s health issues. Think of it like your friend who asks for donations for a cause because they’re running a marathon. It’s exactly like that except it involves zero effort beyond the occasional ‘stache brushing.
Jameson Black Barrel, a stellar iteration of the already wonderful whiskey, is an official partner of Movember. That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise if you think about how many bartenders rock clever mustaches. Last year the Jameson network raised a staggering $400,000 for the Movember Foundation, the most of any partner. They’re looking to top that this year, and are offing $100 (up to $100,000) for every person who joins the Jameson Mo Team. Sing up today if you want to put your face and your friends to good use.
Jameson held a cocktail contest in Chicago to kick of the Movember campaign, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the judges. Nine of the top bartenders in Chicago first created whatever they wanted using Jameson Black Barrel, and the three finalists had to make up a new spin on an Old Fashioned. Judging this contest wast a far tougher job than I expected. Trying to separate which is the best from a group of all great drinks is tough especially when the finals rolled around and I was already nine drinks deep. Thankfully I was up to the task an dubbed Julia Momose from Green River as the winner.
Unfortunately few people will have the ingredients/skills necessary to make the contest cocktails, so I’ll leave you with the official cocktail of Movember.
The Jameson Black Barrel Old Fashioned:
2 parts Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey
¾ part Benedictine
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Orange Bitters
Combine ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice and stir until ice cold. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice.
Check out the awesome photos by Joe Piehl of Joe The Explorer and Boozist fame.
And finally, me mockingly nosing a cup of Jameson Black Barrel.
