Newport Live Events, in collaboration with Cocktail Wars Newport, hosted a margarita cocktail competition at Newport’s Irish American Athletic Club on Feb. 18. Hosted during the Newport Winter Festival, the Fifth Ward Margarita Madness competition featured La Vida Buena Tequila as the base spirit and was hosted by John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars Newport, with Andreia Santos, Founder/Owner, La Vida Buena Tequila. Five competitors made their best margaritas for a panel of judges: Paul Boardman, Owner, Benjamin’s Newport; Morgan Miller, Owner, Life With Morgan; and Adrienne Nicole, Bartender, La Vecina. The winners were Chelsea Rein Smith, Bartender, Tavern on Broadway, and Cameron Carlin, Bartender, Gardiner House, who tied for first place. La Vida Buena Tequila is a smallbatch ultra-premium tequila, made of slow-cooked 100% blue Weber agave and aged in American oak barrels for eight months.
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- La Vida Buena Tequila in Reposado and Blanco expressions at Newport’s Irish American Athletic Club on Feb. 18 for a Fifth Ward Margarita Madness cocktail competition.
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- Andreia Santos, Founder/Owner, La Vida Buena Tequila poured tastes.
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- John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars; Paul Boardman, Owner, Benjamin’s Newport and Competition Judge; Morgan Miller, Owner, Life With Morgan and Competition Judge; and Andreia Santos, Founder/Owner, La Vida Buena Tequila.
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- Winner Chelsea Rein Smith, Bartender, Tavern on Broadway.
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- Rein Smith’s winning cocktail.
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- Winner Cameron Carlin, Bartender, Gardiner House.
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- Carlin’s winning cocktail.
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- Competitor Kyle Saulnier, Newport Live Events.
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- Saulnier’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Nick Aprea, Bartender, Gardiner House.
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- Aprea’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Jackie Martel, Bartender, Wally’s Wieners.
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- Martel’s cocktail.
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- Winners Chelsea Rein Smith, Bartender, Tavern on Broadway and Cameron Carlin, Bartender, Gardiner House.
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- Adrienne Nicole, Bartender, La Vecina Taqueria and Competition Judge; Andreia Santos, Founder/Owner, La Vida Buena Tequila; and Morgan Miller, Owner, Life With Morgan and Competition Judge.
Photos by Laura Widness.
