After the 2014 “Stars of the Industry” annual awards, a lively Iron ‘Tender cocktail competition was held at the casino’s Lighthouse Bar. Judging criteria included simplicity, replicability, taste, balance, aroma and presentation. Six teams of bartenders had seven minutes to create each and present cocktails for three rounds. Each round featured a sponsored spirit: Newport’s KEEL Vodka, Wondermint from Death’s Door Distillery of Wisconsin and Stonington’s Real McCoy Rum. The Dorrance’s Vito Lantz, Tyler Schweppe, Steven Pothier took first place; Jonathan Dille and Kayleigh Speck of The Grange represented the United States Bartenders Guild RI (USBG RI) chapter and took second place; and third place went to Aruba Steve’s Steve Correa, Thomas Studer and Minda Fujimoto. Phil Gendreau and Lisa Donovan of Iron Works Tavern, Twin River’s Katherine Dacier, Alexis Forte and Anthony Guaetta, and Siena Restaurant Group’s Kelly Jackson and Kara Travisono also competed. National Vice President of the United States Bartenders Guild and Twin River’s General Manager of Beverage Operations, Frank Martucci, officiated while Michael Lester of M.S. Walker emceed.
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- Competitors and judges crowd the Lighthouse Bar.
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- The Dorrance’s Vito Lantz, Tyler Schweppe, Steven Pothier.
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- Siena Restaurant Group’s Kelly Jackson and Kara Travisono.
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- First round of cocktails.
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- The judges: Dana Slone, Editor of The Rhode Island and Connecticut Beverage Journals; Jonathan Pogash, bar consultant and “The Cocktail Guru;” Gail Ciampa, Food Editor, The Providence Journal; and Pamela Wiznitzer, bartender/mixologist of renowned New York City bar, The Dead Rabbit.
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- Jonathan Dille and Kayleigh Speck of The Grange and USBG RI.
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- Aruba Steve’s Steve Correa and Thomas Studer (Minda Fujimoto not pictured).
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- The Twin River team.
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- Real McCoy’s Vernon Rauch.
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- KEEL Vodka’s Alison Dessel and Tom McGowan, KEEL co-founder.
