Sherkaan Espresso Cocktail Competition Names Winners

Featuring House of Suntory’s Haku Craft Vodka, Brescome Barton, in collaboration with Beam Suntory, hosted an espresso martini cocktail competition at Sherkaan Indian Street Food in New Haven on February 24 featuring House of Suntory’s Haku Craft Vodka. The event was inspired by and in honor of famed mixologist Dick Bradsell, who is credited with inventing the espresso martini along with other popular cocktails. Guests enjoyed drink specials focused on the espresso martini, white Russian and revolver cocktails while competition judges Brian Danishevsky, CT Revelry; Joe Aceto, Mezzo Grille; and Anthony DeSerio, Account Consultant, Diageo Reserve, rated their top picks. First-place winner Dan Shekman of Oak Haven Table & Bar took home the Beam Suntory trophy, with Sherkaan Indian Street Food bartenders Grace Perez and Alejandro Villacorta named runners-up.

: Haku Craft Vodka was the featured spirit in an espresso martini cocktail competition at Sherkaan Indian Street Food on February 24. Haku, a premium Japanese craft vodka from the House of Suntory, is made with 100% Japanese rice and filtered through bamboo charcoal after its unique distillation process.

: Competition judges Brian Danishevsky, CT Revelry; Joe Aceto, Mezzo Grille; and Anthony DeSerio, Account Consultant, Diageo Reserve.

: Veronica Saurett, Account Development Manager and Ray Collins, Sales Representative, both of Brescome Barton.

: Dan Shekman and Harrison Love, Beam Suntory.

: First-place winner Dan Shekman, Oak Haven Table & Bar.

: Shekman’s cocktail, Haiku for You.

: Runner-up Grace Perez, Sherkaan Indian Street Food.

: Perez’s cocktail, Haku Oni.

: Runner-up Alejandro Villacorta, Sherkaan Indian Street Food.

: Villacorta’s cocktail, Galavanters Motley.

: Runners-up Grace Perez and Alejandro Villacorta, both of Sherkaan Indian Street Food; Roger Gross, Bar Manager, Sherkaan Indian Street Food; and First-place winner Dan Shekman, Oak Haven Table & Bar.