Twin River Casino hosted an inaugural event, “A Bitter Affair: Love Story from Beginning to End – Apertif and Digestif Bitters,” on February 6-7. The festival began with a dinner at Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse hosted by Nick Korn, Italian Spirit Specialist at Campari. Lindsay Matteson of Amor y Amargo in New York City, Craig Ventrice of Kawa Ni in Connecticut, Hannah Welans of jm Curley in Boston, Phil Stafford of The Eddy and Durk’s Bar-B-Q in Providence and Adam “Opie” Oppenheimer of Lighthouse Bar in Twin River created cocktails featuring Campari products that were paired with a six-course meal.

The event continued the following day with “Don’t Be Bitter, You Don’t Know Everything,” a series of three seminars at Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse. The panel discussion was moderated by Johnathan Pogash, followed with #DJSTIVE Tour 2017, “Herbal Bitter Origins” led by Willy Shine of Jägermeister. Lindsey Matteson of Amar y Amargo discussed “how senses of smell and taste combine to create our perception of flavor” and Duane Sylvestre of Collectif 1806/Remy Cointreau educated guests on Triple Sec. After the seminars, the grand tasting event at Rhodehouse Live gave guests the opportunity to sample and learn about more than 25 local and national bitter products, apertifs and digestifs. Part of the event proceeds went to benefit the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) National Charity Foundation Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.