Connecticut’s Annual USBG Bartending Competition Begins

The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) New Haven and Hartford chapters, along with Eder Bros., Inc. and Allan S. Goodman, kicked off the fourth annual USBG Connecticut Civil War Bartending Competition with the South’s first round event at Bear’s Smokehouse – The Stack in New Haven on April 8. The competition hosts 10 events in venues across the state, in “North” against “South” bar talent and locations. The South’s first event featured spirit Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, with Dan Shekman of Oak Haven Table & Bar in first place, Jenna Geysen of Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen in second place and Mary Quinn of Bistro on Main in third. The North’s round one kicked off at The Cook & The Bear in West Hartford on April 23, with a tiki competition featuring Waypoint Spirits Man Overboard Spiced Flavored Rum and Goodman Coffee Liqueur. The first-place winner was Erica Landry of The Olive Bar, second place went to Dustin Amore of The Cook & The Bear and the third-place winner was Jerome Daigneault of Marlborough Tavern.

: The USBG Connecticut Civil War Bartending Competition kicked off at The Stack in New Haven on April 8 with featured spirit Old Forester.

: First-place winner Dan Shekman of Oak Haven Table & Bar.

: Shekman’s cocktail, Sea Here Mr. Brown.

: Second-place winner Jenna Geysen of Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen.

: Geysen’s cocktail, You’ll Never Know Till You Rye.

: Third-place winner Mary Quinn of Bistro on Main.

: Quinn’s cocktail, Rye Not Put Juleps on the Dill.

: Competitor Dustin Amore.

: Amore’s cocktail.

: Competitor Bryson Davis.

: Davis’ cocktail.

: Competitor Jerome Daigneault.

: Daigneault’s cocktail.

: Competitor Jenny Kim.

: Kim’s cocktail.

: Vincent Rosetti, Eder Bros.; Dan Shekman, Oak Haven Table & Bar; Mary Quinn, 20 On Main; Jenna Geysen, Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen; Jeff Conelius, Craft Spirits Specialist, Allan S. Goodman; and Tom Kachmarck, State Manager, Brown-Forman.

: Round one of the North was held at The Cook & The Bear in West Hartford on April 23, with a tiki competition featuring Goodman Coffee Liqueur and Waypoint Spirits Man Overboard Spiced Flavored Rum.

: Third-place winner Jerome Daigneault, Marlborough Tavern; John Taylor, Co-owner, Waypoint Spirits; Dustin Amore, The Cook & The Bear; Khalid Williams, Waypoint Spirits Brand Ambassador and Bar Manager, Max Amore; and first-place winner Erica Landry of The Olive Bar.