Campari America and Brescome Barton, in coordination with The Mariner’s Victoria Tenzyk, hosted a cocktail competition in honor of Women’s History Month on March 29. Eight local bartenders, including Tenzyk, faced off in friendly competition at the Mystic venue creating their best cocktails using the featured spirit, Appleton Estate 8 Year Reserve Rum. Each cocktail was tasted and rated by competition judges Anthony DeSerio, Dr. Booze LLC; Dan Rek, Beverage Director, Mecha Noodle Bar; and Kristen Palmisano, Account Development Manager, Brescome Barton. The winners were first-place: Nathaniel Colby, Shipwrights Daughter, second-place: Sean Richard, Mecha Noodle Bar and Mariposa Taqueria, and third-place: Suzie Johnson, Taino Prime. Kimberly Kunzik of Spencer & Lynn won the Mariner’s Choice Award. Guests enjoyed specialty event cocktails, including the event’s Trailblazer cocktail. All funds raised through the sale of the Trailblazer were donated to charitable assistance for women in Ukraine, with the Mariner contributing $3 for each cocktail sold from the evening’s menu, and Campari America pledging to match those donations.
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- Appleton Estate Rum was highlighted at a cocktail competition at The Mariner in Mystic on March 29.
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- Appleton Estate Rum 8 Reserve, Appleton Estate Rum 12 Year Old Bare Cask and Appleton Estate 15 Year Old Black River Cask.
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- Kimberly Kunzik, Spencer & Lynn, Mariner’s Choice winner; third-place winner Suzie Johnson, Taino Prime; Chef Shaun Golan, Owner, The Mariner; first-place winner Nathaniel Colby, Shipwrights Daughter; Jakub Andros, Owner, The Mariner; second-place winner Sean Michael Richard, Mecha Noodle Bar; and Gary Dritschler, State Manager, Campari America.
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- First-place winner Nathaniel Colby, Shipwrights Daughter.
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- Second-place winner Sean Michael Richard, Mecha Noodle Bar.
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- Third-place winner Suzie Johnson, Taino Prime.
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- Kimberly Kunzik, Spencer & Lynn, Mariner’s Choice.
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- Victoria Tenzyk, Bartender, The Mariner.
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- Competitor Christina Fucci, On the Fly Mixology.
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- Competitor Kyle Cozart, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse.
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- Competitor Stacy Gardner, Tom’s Urban.
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- Competition judges Dan Rek, Beverage Director, Mecha Noodle Bar; Anthony DeSerio, Dr. Booze CT; and Kristen Palmisano, Wine & Spirit Account Manager, Brescome Barton.
Photos by Michael Leung, courtesy of Campari America.
