Rémy Cointreau’s The Botanist Islay Dry Gin was the showcased spirit in a winter cocktail competition at Olives and Oil in New Haven on Feb. 19. Eleven local bartenders created their best for the Homegrown Cocktail Competition, which tasked contestants with combining ingredients produced locally in Connecticut with the featured gin. Hosted by Deon Ross and Anna Konya of Olives and Oil, four winners were named at the end of the evening judged by a collaborative panel consisting of Michael Loudon, Regional Market Manager, Rémy Cointreau; Jay Kelly, Account Manager, Hartley & Parker, Limited, Inc.; and Janine Sacco, Sales Representative, Skurnik Wines & Spirits. The winners included: First-place Winner Gina Calabrese, The Owl Shop; Second-place Winner Bianca DeJesus, Anchor Spa; Third-place Winner Bryce Wade, BAR; and People’s Choice Winner Brandon Troche, Barcelona Wine Bar, New Haven. Crafted at Scotland’s famed Bruichladdich Distillery, The Botanist Gin features 31 botanicals, including nine traditional botanicals that form the base flavor of the gin and 22 botanicals that are foraged on the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.