Southington Bartending Competition Benefits United Way

The United Way of Southington, in collaboration with Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc., hosted The Southington Cocktail Competition at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on May 30. Sponsored by Southington’s Worldwide Wine & Spirits, Sav-Mor Cooling & Heating, Inc., Mohawk Northeast, Inc., and E. & J. Gallo Winery, the event showcased the talents of bar teams from 15 venues in town, with each creating a craft cocktail featuring Canerock Spiced Rum as its base spirit. Guests enjoyed cocktail demonstrations, sampled tastes and voted on their favorites. Creations were also rated by a panel of judges: Taylor Deegan, General Manager, Worldwide Wine & Spirits and Board President, United Way of Southington; Jason Kelley, Key Account Manager, Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.; Maxwell Burns, Connecticut Market Manager, Maison Ferrand; Rob Martini, Cocktail Specialist; and Britt Elise Lynch, Executive Director, United Way of Southington. The Judge’s winners were: Best Overall: 1. Wood-n-Tap, 2. Craft Kitchen Southington, 3. Hop Häus Southington and 4. Plan B Southington. In the People’s Choice Taste category, the first-place winner was 75 Center and the second-place spot went to The Groggy Frogg. In People’s Choice, Presentation, the winners were 75 Center and Smokin’ With Chris. In People’s Choice, Creativity, the winners were Smokin’ With Chris and Anthony Jacks Wood Fired Grill. All proceeds from the event benefited the United Way of Southington.

: The United Way of Southington, in cooperation with Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc., hosted The Southington Cocktail Competition at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on May 30.

: Brian Cass, Key Account Manager, Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.; Mike Gerard, Canerock Spiced Rum; and Demetra Modeen, Key Account Manager, Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.

: Event cocktails featured Canerock Spiced Rum, a blend of traditional Jamaican rums and natural spices aged in oak casks.

: Brian Cass, Key Account Manager, Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.; Mike Gerard, Canerock Spiced Rum; and Demetra Modeen, Key Account Manager, Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.

: Other featured spirits included Plantation Rum in Panama, Guyana, Jamaica and Fiji Islands expressions.

: Christine Farino and Nicole Gavin, Wood-n-Tap, Southington.

: Tastes of Wood-n-Tap’s cocktail, Tappy Thai Iced Tea, which won first place.

: Alex Hernandez, Craft Kitchen Southington.

: Craft Kitchen’s Strawberry Lichee Mule, which won second place.

: Third-place winners Sam Labbe, Hanna Jacques and Katie Kennedy, Hop Häus Southington.

: Fourth-place winners Amber Marco and Smith Arroyo, Plan B Southington.

: Mckenna Trunk, Ireishka DeJesus, Daniel Martins and Jay Brewer, 75 Center.

: 75 Center’s tiki cocktail, People’s Choice winner in Taste and Presentation categories.

: Crystal Chamberlain, Bartender and Nancy Montana, Owner, The Groggy Frogg.

: Tastes of The Groggy Frogg’s cocktail, Last Minute Vacation, second-place winner in the People’s Choice Taste category.

: Justine Drost, Smokin’ With Chris with the venue’s cocktail, A Smokin’ Deconstructed Piña Colada, second-place winner in the People’s Choice Presentation category.