Artisan Southport, in collaboration with Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI), spearheaded a fundraiser in November for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Throughout the month, Artisan Southport and its sister location, Artisan West Hartford, offered a specialty craft cocktail featuring Hendrick’s Gin geared to raise funds. The Purple Orchid featured Hendrick’s Gin, blackberry purée, St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur and lavender bitters, topped with sparkling wine. Of the cocktail’s development, Jamie Montesi, Senior District Manager, William Grant & Sons, said, “The Artisan team put a lot of work into creating this cocktail, which will now be shared nationally by the Hendrick’s Brand Ambassadors as part of an ongoing program into the new year.” The two Artisan locations competed in a friendly Battle of the Bars to see which could raise the most money in support of the cause. Hendricks Gin contributed by donating bottles of gin. The winners of the sales competition were Aaron Powell in first place, selling 91 cocktails; Luis Enrique Pacheco in second place, selling 89 cocktails and Beth McGloughlin in third place, with 87 cocktails sold. The winning venue was Artisan Southport, led by General Manager, Elaine Dammeyer, raising a total of $8,249.00. In total, both venues sold 557 Purple Orchid cocktails throughout the month, with all proceeds benefiting the Ron Foley Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting early detection and finding a cure for pancreatic cancer.

Photos by Artisan.