Cocktail Wars Newport hosted a Mother’s Day-edition cocktail competition at Newport’s Bar and Board Bistro on May 12. Led by Newport Bartender and Cocktail Wars Founder John Begin, the Pink Drinks for a Cause event showcased the spirits of Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery and Soul Premium Cachaça, with liqueurs from Connecticut-based based Fruitful Mixology. Four local bartenders competed to create their best pink-hued sippers, with David Fickel, Bartender, Diego’s Newport and The Quencher, named competition winner with his cocktail, Mark of the Patriarch. It featured Soul Premium Cachaça, hibiscus tea, Fruitful Smoked Jalapeno Liqueur, agave, pineapple and lime juice, topped with soda water. Tait Applegate, The Bayberry, was named runner-up with his Pink Drinkcicle. Spearheaded by Newport Live Events and its supporting sponsor spirits brands, sales from event cocktails benefited several local women’s charities.
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- Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Vodka, Batchers’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Batchers’ Gin and Soul Premium Cachaça at Newport’s Bar and Board Bistro on May 12.
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- Tyson Pianka, Bartender, Bar and Board Bistro and Gardiner House; Winner David Fickel, Bartender, Diego’s Newport and The Quencher; John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars Newport; Matteo Marasco, Bartender, Newport Live Events; and Runner-up Tait Applegate, The Bayberry.
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- Fruitful Mixology’s Ryan “Murph” Murphy, Territory Manager – CT/RI/MA and Zac Lyons, Master Blender and Competition Judge.
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- The Fruitful Mixology liqueurs lineup.
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- Winner David Fickel, Bartender, Diego’s Newport and The Quencher.
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- Fickel’s winning cocktail, Mark of the Patriarch: Soul Premium Cachaça, hibiscus tea, Fruitful Smoked Jalapeno Liqueur, agave, pineapple and lime juice, topped with soda water.
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- Runner-up Tait Applegate, The Bayberry.
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- Applegate’s Pink Drinkcicle, a blend of Soul Premium Cachaça, Fruitful Watermelon and Apricot liqueurs, and Trader Joe’s To the Power of Seven Red Organic Juice, garnished with fresh whipped cream infused with beet powder.
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- Competitor Tyson Pianka, Bartender, Bar and Board Bistro and Gardiner House.
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- Pianka’s The Pink Gaspee cocktail.
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- Competitor Matteo Marasco, Bartender, Newport Live Events.
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- Marasco’s Stephanie cocktail.
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- Competitors’ cocktails lined up for judges, each a vibrant pink hue.
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- A view of a Cocktail Wars Newport scoring sheet.
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- The Fruitful Mixology Newport Cocktail War Champion 2024 went to David Fickel, Bartender, Diego’s Newport and The Quencher.
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- Winner David Fickel, Bartender, Diego’s Newport and The Quencher.
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- Tyson Pianka, Bartender, Bar and Board Bistro and Gardiner House; Winner David Fickel, Bartender, Diego’s Newport and The Quencher; Runner-up Tait Applegate, The Bayberry; and Matteo Marasco, Bartender, Newport Live Events.
Photos by Laura Widness.
