Snopkoski won with a punch-style drink with five elements of spirit, citrus, sugar, water and spice and called it “5 Wise Men.”

In December, Connecticut bartender Jason Snopkoski of Mezón Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Danbury won ShakeStir’s monthly Flash Cocktail Competition against a field of New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut bartenders. ShakeStir is an online community for bartenders that hosts the competition every month in the tri-state area. The process is simple: bartenders submit original recipes online, under set parameters, within 48-hours of announcing the competition via www.shakestir.com. Snopkoski, a recent Bar Ready graduate of the B.A.R. Advanced Spirits and Mixology certification, is the first contestant from the state to win the $500 cash prize for the tri-state market. ShakeStir partner Andy Seymour said, “Jason represents himself and his community by being passionate about his craft and dedicated to raising the bar for cocktails, without ever losing sight of true hospitality.”