Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI), celebrated the launch of Kavo Greek Island Rum with a cocktail competition hosted at the Birdie Lounge by Rooster & Co. in West Hartford on Nov. 20. Five local bartenders competed to create their best cocktails featuring Kavo Greek Island Rum as their base spirit for the panel of judges: Dimitrios Zahariadis, Owner, Kavo Greek Island Rum and The Cocktail Chemist; Stelios Stavrianos, Co-founder, Kavo Greek Island Rum; and Nadine Gengras, Field Sales Manager, CDI. The winners were third place: Geoff Smith, Birch Hill Tavern; second place: Jason McClellan, Sales Representative, CDI; and first place: Ozzie Casco, RoadRunner Kitchen + Bar. Founded by Connecticut natives Zahariadis and Stavrianos, Kavo Rum is the world’s first Greek island rum. The unique small-batch spirit is made from 100% sugar cane and distilled with Greek bergamot, mandarin oranges, sage, honey, vanilla and thyme, with aromatic notes of vanilla, fresh pine and Mediterranean citrus on the nose. Kavo Greek Island Rum is distributed in the state by CDI.
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- Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI), celebrated the launch of Kavo Greek Island Rum with a cocktail competition hosted at the Birdie Lounge by Rooster & Co. in West Hartford on Nov. 20.
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- Founded by Connecticut natives Dimitrios Zahariadis and Stelios Stavrianos, Kavo Rum is the world’s first Greek island rum.
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- Dimitrios Zahariadis and Stelios Stavrianos, Co-founders, Kavo Greek Island Rum. Zahariadis is also the cofounder of The Cocktail Chemist line of canned craft cocktails.
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- Back row: Andrew Haripaul, Kavo Greek Island Rum; Tony Robecci, Olive Bar; Ozzie Casco, RoadRunner Kitchen + Bar; Dimitrios Zahariadis, Co-founder, Kavo Greek Island Rum; Kennie Valliere, Marlborough Tavern; Jason McClellan, Sales Representative, CDI; Geoff Smith, Birch Hill Tavern; and Ruvin Bogati, Bar Manager, Fork & Fire and Sales Representative, CDI. Front row: Stelios Stavrianos, Co-founder, Kavo Greek Island Rum.
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- First-place winner Ozzie Casco, RoadRunner Kitchen + Bar.
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- Casco’s cocktail.
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- Second-place winner Jason McClellan, Sales Representative, CDI.
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- McClellan’s cocktail.
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- Third-place winner Geoff Smith, Birch Hill Tavern.
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- Smith’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Kennie Valliere, Marlborough Tavern.
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- Valliere’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Tony Robecci, Olive Bar.
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- Robecci’s cocktail.
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- Dimitrios Zahariadis, Co-founder, Kavo Greek Island Rum; Winner Ozzie Casco, RoadRunner Kitchen + Bar; and Stelios Stavrianos, Co-founder, Kavo Greek Island Rum.
