The United States Bartenders Guild Connecticut (USBG CT) chapter, along with Allan S. Goodman and Eder Bros, Inc., held their final event in a series of 10 competitions called “The USBG CT Civil War Bartending Competition” at Mezzo Grille in Middletown in September. All 10 competitors, Conrad Meurice, Anthony DeVito, Jaime Johel, Kristen Mixter, Craig Ventrice, Andres Soriano, Jessica Repuano, Nikki Simches, Nicole Mailloux and Ashley Lurie previously won first place during the series of competitions beginning in April and leading up to the finale. Each competition featured spirits from the Allan S. Goodman and Eder Bros, Inc. portfolios and the competitions were segmented by state geography. The final event’s cocktails all featured Fernet-Branca, the historic Italian “digestivo” bitter liqueur made with 27 herbs from five continents. Ashley Lurie was named the winner of the USBG Civil War Cocktail Competition series with her winning cocktail, the “Amor y Amaro.”
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- Fernet-Branca was the sponsored liqueur during the USBG CT Civil War competition finale.
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- Bartender Ashley Lurie preparing her winning cocktail, the “Amor y Amaro.”
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- Edoardo Branca, a sixth-generation member of the Branca family, next to Tim Cabral, Owner, Ordinary and Dan Rek, Bar Manager, Elm City Social. The three served as the judges for the final series competition.
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- Bartender Ashley Lurie preparing her winning cocktail, the “Amor y Amaro.”
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- A selection of the cocktails.
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- Competitor Nikki Simches.
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- Competitor Andres Soriano.
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- Competitor Kristen Mixter.
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- Competitor Jessica Rapuano.
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- Competitor Jaime Johel.
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- Competitor Nicole Mailloux.
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- Competitor Anthony DeVito.
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- The final USBG CT Civil War Competitors: Kristen Mixter, Nikki Simches, Anthony DeVito, Jessica Rapuano, Ashley Lurie, Conrad Meurice, Andres Soriano, Nicole Mailloux, Craig Ventrice and Jaime Johel. Lurie was named the winner in the final competition, taking home the Fernet-Branca bicycle as a prize.
