Opici Family Distributing hosted a brand education and tasting of Meletti liqueurs at Gioia in New Haven on Jan. 21. Special guest Matteo Meletti led the group through a tasting and brand education, giving details of the history and distillation techniques used by the Italian-based brand. The tasting was immediately followed by a cocktail competition, where 10 bartenders created original craft cocktails featuring Meletti Amaro and Coffee Liqueur for a panel of judges: Matteo Meletti; Carolyn “Bambi” Flaherty, Beverage Director, 116 Crown by Hachiroku; and Michela Zurstadt, Beverage Director, The Laurel. The winners were first place: Erin Sawyer, Fair Haven Oyster Co.; second place: Kris McGowan, Wildcat; and third place: Danny Campoverde-Villalva, Nômade. The Meletti liqueurs line includes Limoncello, Amaro, Sambuca, Fernet, Coffee, 187 Bitter Aperitivo, Anisetta Dry, Cioccolato and Anisetta Anice. Matteo and Mauro Meletti, who represent the fifth generation of the Meletti family, lead the company in producing Meletti Fernet and limited-production artisanal cordials, aperitivos, digestivos and liqueurs, which are available in the state through Opici Family Distributing.
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- Opici Family Distributing hosted a brand education and tasting of Meletti liqueurs at Gioia in New Haven on Jan. 21.
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- The Meletti liqueurs line includes Limoncello, Amaro, Sambuca, Fernet, Coffee, 187 Bitter Aperitivo, Anisetta Dry, Cioccolato and Anisetta Anice.
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- Guests were led through a tasting of the Meletti liqueurs line.
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- Matteo Meletti, Owner, Meletti.
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- Competition judges Michela Zurstadt, Beverage Director, The Laurel; Carolyn “Bambi” Flaherty, Beverage Director, 116 Crown by Hachiroku; and Matteo Meletti, Owner, Meletti.
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- First-place winner Erin Sawyer, Fair Haven Oyster Co.
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- Second-place winner Kris McGowan, Wildcat.
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- McGowan’s cocktail.
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- Third-place winner Danny Campoverde-Villalva, Nômade.
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- Campoverde-Villalva with his winning cocktail.
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- Competitor Mike Dempsey, The Owl Shop.
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- Competitor Konrad Dziedzic, New Canaan Playhouse Theater.
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- Dziedzic’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Jake Melvin, Olives and Oil.
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- Melvin’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Jamie Stone, 1928 Cocktail Club.
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- Competitor Tina Garcia, Àvert.
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- Garcia’s cocktail.
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- Competitor Greg Spuches, Leon Restaurant & Bar.
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- Spuches’ cocktail.
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- Competitor Omar Mejia, Zinc.
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- A guest with Deon Ross, Emcee and General Manager, Olives and Oil and Tim Cabral, Owner, Gioia and Ordinary.
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- Competitors’ cocktails.
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- Back Row: Konrad Dziedzic, New Canaan Playhouse Theater; Omar Mejia, Zinc; Matteo Meletti, Owner, Meletti; Jamie Stone, 1928 Cocktail Club; Carolyn “Bambi” Flaherty, Beverage Director, 116 Crown by Hachiroku; Michela Zurstadt, Beverage Director, The Laurel; and Mike Dempsey, The Owl Shop. Front Row: Deon Ross, Emcee and General Manager, Olives and Oil; Greg Spuches, Leon Restaurant & Bar; Tina Garcia, Àvert; Erin Sawyer, Fair Haven Oyster Co.; Jake Melvin, Olives and Oil; and Kris McGowan, Wildcat.
Photos by Alejandro Villacorta.
