Key West, Florida’s Papa’s Pilar Distillery rums were featured in the latest installment of Cocktail Wars Summer Splash, hosted at Newport’s Surf Club on July 16. During the Tiki-themed summer cocktail competition led by Cocktail Wars Newport Founder, Bartender and Historian John Begin, six local bartenders were challenged to create their best summer cocktails featuring Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum and Dark Rum. Competitors Tyson Pianka, Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar; Jack McCarthy, Surf Club; Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; Mateo Marasco, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille; Kendra Ellsworth, Mother Pizzeria; and Devin Johnson, Midtown Oyster Bar, squared off for judges and spectators, who enjoyed tastes and voted for their favorites. Diane Benedict Coury, Rum Runner, and Jeff Coury, Brand Ambassador, Papa’s Pilar Rum, were in attendance to educate guests and serve as judges, along with Phil Kitchen, Sales Representative, Johnson Brothers of Rhode Island, and Zach Sousa, Beverage Director, Inked Restaurant Group. The winners were Tyson Pianka, Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, and Jack McCarthy, Surf Club. Inspired by the life of Ernest Hemingway, Papa’s Pilar Rum is made in conjunction with Hemingway’s descendants and named both after his nickname, “Papa,” and his boat, Pilar.
-
-
Spirits from Key West, Florida’s Papa’s Pilar Distillery were featured in the latest installment of Cocktail Wars, hosted at Newport’s Surf Club on July 16.
-
-
John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars and Phil Kitchen, Sales Representative, Johnson Brothers of Rhode Island.
-
-
Diane Benedict Coury, Rum Runner, Papa’s Pilar Rum; Phil Kitchen, Sales Representative, Johnson Brothers; Zach Sousa, Beverage Director, Inked Restaurant Group and Judge, Cocktail Wars; and Jeff Coury, Brand Ambassador, Papa’s Pilar Rum.
-
-
Jeff Coury, Brand Ambassador and Diane Benedict Coury, Rum Runner, Papa’s Pilar Rum.
-
-
Papa’s Pilar 24-Year Dark Rum and 7-Year Blonde Rum are solera-blended and aged first in American oak bourbon barrels, then transferred to port barrels (for dark) and then Spanish sherry casks during the resting process.
-
-
Diane Benedict Coury, Rum Runner, Papa’s Pilar Rum and John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars.
-
-
Winner Tyson Pianka, Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar making his cocktail, The Sun Also Sours.
-
-
Pianka’s cocktail, The Sun Also Sours: a blend of Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum, grapefruit, pineapple juice, lime juice, fresh mint, grapefruit bitters, salt and egg white.
-
-
Winner Jack McCarthy, Surf Club.
-
-
McCarthy’s cocktail, A-Hoisin Me Mateys!: Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum, hoisin sauce-raspberry simple syrup, ginger liqueur, lime juice, pomegranate juice and orgeat with a freeze-dried raspberry rim, garnished with a candied lime wheel and raspberry lily pad.
-
-
Competitor Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad.
-
-
Oliva’s cocktail, Coco Blonde: Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum, pineapple juice, coconut water and grapefruit soda, topped with Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum and served inside a hollow coconut.
-
-
Competitor Mateo Marasco, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille.
-
-
Marasco’s cocktail, Rum in the Sun: equal parts Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum and Blonde Rum, pineapple orange lime cordial and fresh mango nectar.
-
-
Competitor Kendra Ellsworth, Mother Pizzeria.
-
-
Ellsworth’s cocktail, Alexa Play “Island in the Sun” by Weezer: a blend of Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum, passion fruit puree, lemon juice and orgeat, garnished with Luxardo cherries and a cocktail umbrella.
-
-
Devin Johnson, Midtown Oyster Bar.
-
-
Johnson’s cocktail, I Got the Keys: a blend of Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum, pineapple juice, key lime juice, Coco Lopez Real Cream of Coconut, topped with a floater of Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum, fresh coconut whipped cream and finely toasted coconut flakes.
-
-
Cocktails at the judges’ station.
-
-
Contestant’s cocktails featuring Papa’s Pilar Rum.
-
-
Back row: Zach Sousa, Beverage Director, Inked Restaurant Group; Jeff Coury, Brand Ambassador, Papa’s Pilar Rum; Phil Kitchen, Sales Representative, Johnson Brothers; Cam Tesorio, Surf Club; Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; John Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars; and Guest. Front row: Diane Benedict Coury, Rum Runner, Papa’s Pilar Rum; Jack McCarthy, Surf Club; Tyson Pianka, Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar; Mateo Marasco, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille; Kendra Ellsworth, Mother Pizzeria; and Tori Solkowski.
Photos by Laura Widness.