The Grand Tasting at the New England Tequila & Rum Festival returned for its second year on May 7 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln. Russell Davis, star of Spike TV’s “Bar Rescue,” served as the event’s emcee for a second year in a row. Trade professionals offered event guests tastes of tequilas, rums, spirits and beers from the many international, regional and local brands represented. The event also featured tequila and rum pairing seminars alongside food and entertainment.
Blind tasting competitions and a dinner at Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse were some of the trade-only highlights preceding the public grand tasting. Approximately 2,000 people attended this year’s festival, enabling Twin River to present a check from a portion of ticket sales in the amount of $7,000 to the Johnson & Wales University Center for Food and Beverage Management program, for student and teacher enrichment opportunities.
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- Frank Martucci, General Manager Beverage Operations, Twin River Casino with Russell Davis, Event Emcee. Davis appears on Spike TV’s “Bar Rescue.”
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- Cary Simms, Portfolio Manager Constellation Brands MA/RI, Horizon Beverage with Ben Hancock, Field Sales Manager, Constellation Brands.
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- Anthony DeSerio, United States Bartenders Guild Connecticut (USBG CT) chapter member and member of Patron’s “60 Hands Alliance” serving samples of Patron, Roca Patron and cocktails.
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- Joe Landolfi, Brand Manager, Market St. Spirits, a division of Opici Wines, with Jen Murphy, Brinley Gold Shipwreck Rum.
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- Deerdra Cetoute, Promotions, Mount Gay Rum with Alex Thibault, Key Account Manager, Remy Cointreau USA with Mount Gay Rum.
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- Amanda Mathiesen, Promotions, Don Julio Tequila.
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- Mike Mills, Senior Brand Ambassador, RIPE Bar Juce; Jay Scenti, Campari America; Nicole Mercier, Promotions; Gary Dritschler, Market Manager, Campari America.
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- Art Chamberland, Pernod Ricard Portfolio Manager, Rhode Island Distributing Co.
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- Jason Tamanin, South Florida Brand Champion, Herradura Tequila.
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- Dennis Rochford, Regional Brand Manager, Hotel California Tequila.
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- Brent Ryan, Master Distiller, Newport Distilling Company and Clare Simpson-Daniel, Public Relations and Events Captain, Newport Distilling Company.
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- Paul Mathes, New England Regional Manager, Shaw-Ross.
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- Dana Strom, Regional Manager New England, Fishbowl Spirits; Nate Churchill, United States Bartenders Guild Philadelphia chapter member with Blue Chair Bay Rum.
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- Nicole Canella, Promotions, Edrington, with Brugal Rum.
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- Alexei Beratis, President, Inspired Beverages.
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- Leo Luciano of Heineken with Tecate and Dos Equis Beer.
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- Steven Gubb, Owner, Gubba Rum.
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- Christine Langford, Sales Representative, M.S. Walker.
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- Peter Waite of Bully Boy Distillers serving cocktail samples to guests.
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- Brian Warrener, Associate Professor, Center for Food and Beverage Management, School of Hospitality, JWU; Frank Martucci, General Manager of Beverage Operations, Twin River Casino; Brian Van Gyzen, Associate Professor, College of Management, School of Hospitality, JWU; Michael Sabitoni, Department Chair, Center for Food and Beverage Management, School of Hospitality, JWU. The $7,000 donation from proceeds of the festival’s ticket sales will be used for JWU student fellowships and faculty internships.
