gaz regan has released the winners of his Big Cocktail Competition. He will present the winning drinks and explain why each cocktail won at next month’s Manhattan Cocktail Classic. The winning cocktail in the Bernheim Wheat Whiskey division is the Friskey Eve, adapted from a recipe by Forrest Cokely of Hi Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, Calif.; in the Dubonnet division, the winner is the Cat's Meow, adapted from a recipe by Ted Kilgore of Taste by Niche, St. Louis; the Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila division winner is the Persephone's Exiliar, adapted from a recipe by A.J. Rathbun, Seattle; the PAMA Division winner is the Cupid's Revenge Cocktail, adapted from a recipe by Brent Evans, 17th Street Social Club in Costa Mesa, Calif.; and the Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey division winner is The Final Ward, adapted from a recipe by Philip Ward of Mayahuel, New York.
Gina Chersevani of Washington, D.C.’s PS 7’s took top honors in the city’s Best Martini contest, hosted by the Beacon Hotel. Participants used ABSOLUT BERRI AÇAÍ vodka to create their drinks. To play up the açaí, Chersevani’s “The Smoking Brazilian” used lemon and hibiscus. Area bartenders competing for the top prize of $750 included, Poste's Rico Wisner, Alliance Tavern's Chris Cunningham, St. Ex's Jonathon Fein, Ten Penh's Babak Pakravan, Nage's Matthew Wilcox, Nova Lounge’s Scott Passer and Hudson Restaurant's Antonio Hurley.
Throughout the month of March, 12 of D.C.’s top mixologists, including Chersevani, Tiffany Short of The Gibson, Chantal Tseng of the Tabard Inn and Justin Guthrie of POV at the W Hotel, competed to create the most artistic Martini inspired by a work of art in the permanent collection at D.C.’s Corcoran Gallery of Art. The winning cocktail was Guthrie’s The Number Nine (cinnamon-infused ABSOLUT Vodka, sweet vermouth, house-made ginger/lemon soda, aromatic bitters, shiso leaf, kirby cucumber and fresh currants).
Barritt’s Ginger Beer invites bartenders from all over to try their hands at creating the next great Barritt’s cocktail. The winning mixologist will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Bermuda. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter and win. Click here to read the Official Contest Rules.
The Park City Area Restaurant Association presented its fifth annual Cocktail Contest April 8. Participating bartenders prepared cocktails for a panel of local judges, and the winning concoction was named the official Park City Signature Cocktail for 2010. The winner was Sky Bar bartender Eddie Schneckloth's Blue Açaí Sour. Reports from Park City say the Ginger-Lemon Cooler by Deer Valley's Bonnie Ulmer was also a much-lauded contender.