Under newly devised safety conditions as the pandemic continued to limit crowd size and interactions, The Deck in Newport hosted its annual Ketel One Vodka Bloody Mary cocktail competition on Oct. 11. With guests purchasing tickets in advance of the event and given a score sheet while seated at socially distanced tables, nine competitors created their versions of a Ketel One Bloody Mary and explained their drink concepts as small tastes were sampled and the drinks voted upon. Tallied sheets revealed the winner, Bartender Adrienne Nicole Rubin of The Reef with the cocktail The Green Monstah, a green tomato Bloody Mary “inspired by flavors of the islands,” she explained. Second-place runner-up was Ed Day of O’Brien’s Pub.

Winning cocktail by The Reef’s Adrienne Nicole Rubin, The Green Monstah. To create the Bloody Mary mix, start by grilling green tomatoes. Once the tomatoes have been grilled and cooled, add them to a mixture with jalapeño, pineapple, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and tomato paste. Emulsify the mix until you have a smooth, thick consistency. Add Ketel One Vodka and top with a splash of pineapple juice. Garnish with a fresh pineapple slice, a jalapeño slice and a crispy Jack cheese crisp. Photo courtesy of Rubin.

A lineup of freshly created Bloody Marys at The Deck in Newport during its annual competition on Oct. 11, 2020. Photo by John Begin.