Cocktail Wars Newport and Newport Live Events, with sponsor Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery, hosted an espresso martini cocktail competition at Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina during the Newport Winter Festival on Feb. 16. Spearheaded by Cocktail Wars Newport Founder and Bartender John Begin and emceed by Tom Kelly, General Manager, Yagi Noodles, the event featured six bartenders creating their version of an espresso martini featuring Connecticut-grown and -made Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Vodka for a panel of judges, which included Katheryn Mileur, Manager, Wally’s Wieners; Brooke Lenling, Lead Bartender, Mother Pizzeria; and Eddie Homer, Retired Bartender. Competitors were cheered on as they worked to create their cocktails for judges to evaluate and for guests to sample. The winner was Newport Bartender Cameron Carlin and the runner-up was Neyssa Carrellas, Mobile Bartender. The Litchfield Distillery spirits line is distributed in Rhode Island by Johnson Brothers.
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- Cocktail Wars Newport and Newport Live Events, with sponsor Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery, hosted an espresso martini cocktail competition at Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina during the Newport Winter Festival on Feb. 16.
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- The Litchfield Distillery spirits line.
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- Tom Kelly, General Manager, Yagi Noodles and Event Emcee; Doug Maloney, Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery; Roula Vithoulkas, Co-host, Litchfield Distillery; and John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars Newport.
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- Tom Kelly, General Manager, Yagi Noodles and Event Emcee.
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- Competition winner Cameron Carlin, Bartender, Newport.
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- Carlin’s cocktail.
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- Runner-up Neyssa Carrellas, Mobile Bartender.
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- Carrellas’ cocktail was garnished with edible glitter.
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- Competitor Ariel Gardiner, Bartender, Coast Guard House.
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- Gardiner’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Savannah Blouin, Mixologist/Brand Ambassador, Quiver Spirits.
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- Blouin’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Sara King, Bartender, Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina.
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- King’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Constantine “Dino” Kolitsas, Chef/Owner, Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar.
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- Kolitsas’ cocktail.
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- Katheryn (Kat) Mileur, Manager, Wally’s Wieners and Competition Judge; Brooke Lenling, Lead Bartender, Mother Pizzeria and Competition Judge; Eddie Homer, Retired Bartender and Competition Judge; and Tom Kelly, General Manager, Yagi Noodles and Event Emcee.
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- Tom Kelly, General Manager, Yagi Noodles and Event Emcee; Winner Cameron Carlin, Bartender, Newport; John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars Newport; and Runner-up Neyssa Carrellas, Mobile Bartender.
Photos by Laura Widness.
