Chase Prentiss, Public Affairs Assistant,
Connecticut Restaurant Association.

By Chase Prentiss, Public Affairs Assistant, Connecticut Restaurant Association 

What makes a great drink? Some might say the ingredients. Others may point to how they’re mixed. Jose Colon of Elm City Social in New Haven believes it’s the conversations. Colon is one of five Connecticut bartenders nominated for Bartender of the Year at the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s annual CRAZIES Awards. Alongside his nomination are four others: Suzie Johnson (Fire by Forge, Hartford), Adrian Hurtado (Taco Guy, Norwalk), Olivia Olsen (ATC South Street, Litchfield) and Shane McGowan (Wildcat, Hamden). While simple questions such as “What’s your favorite cocktail?” or “How did you get started in the industry?” would have sufficed, I aimed to dive deeper and explore their true motivations.

A common theme was that of artistic expression, specifically that bartending acts as an outlet for their creativity. Olsen of ATC South Street described her own experience in a particularly beautiful way, saying that she “loves nothing more than watching people enjoy a cocktail that [she’s] made, knowing that [she’s] getting to share with them a piece of [herself] and nourish them with [her] ideas.” This sentiment was echoed by Johnson of Fire by Forge. She told me that she “always felt like an artist without a medium and that bartending is [her] answer to that.” Both discussed the desire to bring bold new flavors to anyone who walks into their bars, broadening their horizons.

In addition to being a form of artistic expression, our Bartender of the Year nominees expressed their love for how bartending brings people together. Colon of Elm City Social believes the conversations one has while enjoying a drink are what make a memorable cocktail. He told me that he “looks forward to making someone smile with the cocktail that [he] serves them, as well as the stories [they] share with each other.”

While speaking with Hurtado of Taco Guy, he shared that bartending, specifically his time working in New York City, has allowed him to have conversations with people from all over the world. Having started in the service industry as a child at his family’s restaurant in Mexico, he has had the opportunity to share stories with people from all walks of life. He has had the “ability to work with great people, meet new people and accomplish life goals” through his time in the service industry.

A cocktail crafted by Olivia Olsen, ATC South Street, Litchfield, and nominee for CRAZIES Bartender of the Year.

Among all of our Bartender of the Year nominees, it seems that one “why” for bartending remains constant: the people. The ability to share one’s creative energy with others, and then to enjoy a genuine conversation with them afterward—whether it’s a fellow bartender, co-worker, regular patron or new visitor—is seemingly priceless.

People in the food-service industry, bartenders included, have difficult jobs. They work nights on weekends while most people are out enjoying the end of the traditional workweek, they have to be scrambling and on their feet constantly and they aren’t always met with kindness. That being said, our Bartender of the Year nominees believe that this is a small price to pay for one of the greatest jobs in the world.

Hosted annually by the Connecticut Restaurant Association, the CRAZIES Awards recognize the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s hospitality community. The Bartender of the Year winner will be announced live at this year’s CRAZIES on Monday, Dec. 9, at Foxwoods Resort Casino. More information can be found at craziesawards.com.