The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) New Haven and Hartford chapters, along with Eder Bros, Inc. and Allan S. Goodman, kicked off the third annual USBG Civil War Bartending Competition with an event at The Spread in South Norwalk on April 9. The competition hosts 10 events in venues across the state, in “north” against “south” bar talent and locations. Bartenders competed in the first event mixing cocktails using the featured spirit Tequila Correlejo. Craig Ventrice, Bar Manager of Kawi Ni, was the first-place winner. Juan Meyer, Bartender at East End in Greenwich, came in at second place and Kyle Martinez, Beverage Director at Bailey’s Backyard, was the third place winner.
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- Tequilera Corralejo is located in the state of Guanajuato, one of the few Mexican states outside of Jalisco allowed to produce tequila.
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- Vincent Rossetti, Craft Portfolio Manager, Allan S. Goodman.
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- Craig Ventrice, Beverage Director, Jessup Hall/Kawai Ni/The Whelk.
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- Ventrice’s winning cocktail, 20/20 Vision.
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- Juan Meyer, Bartender/Beverage Director at East End, Greenwich.
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- Meyer’s cocktail, Improv.
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- Kyle Martinez, Beverage Director at Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield.
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- Martinez’s cocktail, Guanajuottoman.
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- Stephanie McCool, Manager of Flipside Burgers & Bar, Fairfield.
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- McCool’s cocktail, Georgia-rita.
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- Jerome Daigneault, Bar Manager at Filomena’s Pizza on Main Street, Manchester.
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- Daigneault’s cocktail, Drinko for Cinco.
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- Patricia Ornauer, Beverage Director, 55 Wine Bar & Wood Grille, Fairfield.
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- Ornauer’s cocktail, Dose of Sea.
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- Andrew Fiorini, General Manager, Cask Republic, Stamford.
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- Fiorini’s cocktail, Woosabi
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- Jonathan Rodriguez, Bartender/Beverage Director, Mecha Noodle Bar.
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- Rodriguez’s cocktail, Hot Lips.
Photos by Andrew Dominick.
