Litchfield Distillery Crowns Winner in Cocktail Competition

Litchfield Distillery hosted a cocktail competition on November 13, 2017, at its headquarters in Litchfield in search of a brand signature cocktail. Local bartenders were invited to create The Litchfielder, showcasing Litchfield Distillery’s Batcher’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Out of 45 entries submitted online, Litchfield Distillery chose six finalists to compete in the live competition. The competition was tied and the two finalists, Juan Meyer and Christian Hurtado, squared off in a “Whiskey Sour Shake Off,” with Hurtado taking the win. All six finalists received a well-stocked “bar bag” while Hurtado also received a $250 gift card and will be credited as the creator of The Litchfielder in the company’s marketing materials. The winning recipes were chosen by a panel of four judges based on aroma, taste, presentation, use of the brand and creativity.

: Litchfield Distillery Owners Jack Baker and David Baker.

: During the finals, Christian Hurtado shakes it up. Hurtado tied Juan Meyer, bringing the two bartenders to a “shake off.”

: Hurtado’s winning version of The Litchfielder uses Litchfield Distillery’s bourbon with Amaretto, lemon juice, simple syrup, apple butter and egg whites.

: Competitor and runner-up Juan Meyer.

: Meyer’s cocktail.

: Christine Marie received Litchfield Distillery’s first Distillers Award for her cocktail, Litchfield Love Potion, a twist on the Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned.

: Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned.

: Competitor Kateri Duffey.

: Competitor Tom Sutton.

: Sutton’s cocktail.

: Competitor Craig Ventrice.

: Ventrice’s cocktail.

: Competitor Cole Stevenson.

: Stevenson’s cocktail.

: Judges Beverley Canepari and Lora Karam, bloggers from “Unlocking Litchfield;” Litchfield Distillery’s Brand Ambassador, Dimitrios Zahariadis, also Vice President of the United States Bartenders’ Guild Connecticut (USBG CT) chapter; and Daniel Rek, Bar Manager, Elm City Social and Secretary, USBG CT.