New Haven’s Oak Haven Table & Bar and Slocum & Sons hosted the third annual Four Roses Cocktail Competition on July 30. Ten local bartenders faced off for the two category winning titles, Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice. A grand prize of a $300 gift card and the Four Roses Bourbon trophy went to each winner through judges’ blind tasting and a popular crowd vote. Judges were Jerusha Torres, Northeast Regional Manager, Four Roses Bourbon; Alexei Beratis, Partner, Inspired Beverage, Inc.; Dimitrios Zahariadis, USBG New Haven President; and Aaron Taylor, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons. Christian Orlando of Barracuda Restaurant & Bar with his cocktail, A Drink Has No Name, took the judges vote, while crowd favorite went to Jeff Laude. Michela Zurstadt of The Essex came in second with her creation, The Final Destination, and Kim Kunzik of Barcelona New Haven took third with her cocktail Kentucky Breakfast.
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- Expressions of Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, including Four Roses Single Barrel, Four Roses Original and Four Roses Small Batch.
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- Judges Alexei Beratis, Partner, Inspired Beverage, Inc.; Dimitrios Zahariadis, USBG New Haven President; Aaron Taylor, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons; and Jerusha Torres, Northeast Regional Manager, Four Roses Bourbon.
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- First-place judges’ pick Christian Orlando.
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- Christian Orlando’s cocktail, A Drink Has No Name.
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- Second place’s Michela Zurstadt.
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- Michela Zurstadt’s cocktail, Final Destination.
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- Third-place pick Kim Kunzik making her entry, Kentucky Breakfast.
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- Competitor Jeff Laude.
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- Jeff Laude’s cocktail, Mama’s Little Helper.
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- Judge’s pick for best cocktail, Bartender Christian Orlando with Jerusha Torres, Northeast Regional Manager, Four Roses Bourbon.
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- Colorful cocktails featuring Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
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- Torres with crowd-favorite winner Jeff Laude.
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- Competitor Victoria Tenzyk.
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- Tenzyk’s Forever Rose.
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- Evan Vazquez making his Toddy Appleseed.
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- Competitor Dee Alan Blackmer.
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- Blackmer’s Orchard Rose.
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- Competitor Dave Cohade.
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- Cohade’s cocktail John Wayne.
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- Competitor Danny Cobbs
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- Cobbs’ cocktail, Not So Hot Toddy.
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- Four Roses Bourbon copper mugs.
Photos by Michael Leung.
