Slocum & Sons, in collaboration with Sovereign Brands, hosted the second annual Halloween-themed iron bartender competition at The Charles in Wethersfield on Oct. 30. Twelve local bartenders competed in teams of two, wearing festive attire all while creating craft cocktails featuring The Deacon Scotch Whisky, Bumbu Rum, McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin and Villon Cognac Liqueur for guests and a panel of judges: Kevin Hickey, Regional Sales Manager, Sovereign Brands; Tiffany Nevers, Beverage Consultant, Dreamweaver Hospitality Group and Director of Operations, Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour; and John Tsipouras, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons. Competitors were also awarded for their best Halloween costumes, as well as from the blind tasting of their creations. The event was hosted by Tsipouras and Renee DiNino, Director of Community Affairs and On-Air Programming for iHeartMedia. The winning teams were First-place: Suzie Johnson, Fire by Forge and Dustin Amore, Little River Restoratives; Second-place: Abraham Riojas, Treva Restaurant & Bar and Bridget Hurley, The Charles; and Third-place: Zach O’Brien and Rachel Wolfer, Max Fish.
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- Slocum & Sons, in collaboration with Sovereign Brands, hosted the second annual Halloween-themed iron bartender competition featuring spirits from Sovereign Brands at The Charles in Wethersfield on Oct. 30.
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- The Charles in Halloween decor.
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- Twelve local bartenders competed in teams of two, wearing festive attire all while creating craft cocktails featuring spirits from Sovereign Brands for a panel of judges.
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- Bartenders competed using The Deacon Scotch Whisky, Bumbu Rum, McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin and Villon Cognac Liqueur as their base spirits.
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- Kevin Hickey, Regional Sales Manager, Sovereign Brands showcasing The Deacon Scotch Whisky and John Tsipouras, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons.
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- Hosts John Tsipouras, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons and Renee DiNino, Director of Community Affairs and On-Air Programming for iHeartMedia.
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- Bryce Hardy, Owner, The Charles.
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- Winners Suzie Johnson, Fire by Forge and Dustin Amore, Little River Restoratives.
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- Johnson’s and Amore’s winning cocktail, The McQueen of Halloween: McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin, Dolin Génépy le Chamois Liqueur, lime juice, Villon Cognac Liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino and orange peel syrup, garnished with a dehydrated orange wheel and a torched rosemary sprig.
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- Second-place winners Abraham Riojas, Treva Restaurant & Bar and Bridget Hurley, The Charles.
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- Riojas’ and Hurley’s cocktail, The Secret Recipe: a blend of Bumbu Rum, Tempus Fugit Crème de Banana, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, allspice dram, chocolate bitters and a pinch of salt, garnished with grated nutmeg.
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- Third-place winning team Zach O’Brien and Rachel Wolfer, Max Fish.
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- O’Brien’s and Wolfer’s third-place cocktail, Flippin’ Out: Bumbu Rum, Tempus Fugit Crème de Banana, allspice dram, apple cider, chocolate bitters and egg, garnished with bitter art on top of egg foam.
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- . Alexandra Leone, La Mazet Brasserie and Jack Forbes, Union Kitchen.
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- Cocktail by Leone and Forbes.
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- Jenna Thieves and Clarissa Lonero, The Spicy Green Bean.
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- Clarissa Lonero, The Spicey Green Bean.
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- Thieves and Lonero’s cocktail.
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- Isabella Thomas and Shannon Ciralli, Marketplace in Avon.
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- Isabella Thomas and Shannon Ciralli, Marketplace in Avon.
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- Thomas and Ciralli’s cocktail.
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- Kevin Hickey, Regional Sales Manager, Sovereign Brands; Tiffany Nevers, Beverage Consultant, Dreamweaver Hospitality Group and Director of Operations, Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour; and John Tsipouras, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons.
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- Winners got to claim the customized event prize belt.
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- Winning team Dustin Amore, Little River Restoratives and Suzie Johnson, Fire by Forge.
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- Justin Morales and Sam Dziecol, Up n’ Down Rock and Bourbon.
Photos by Michael Leung.
