The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) New Haven and Hartford chapters, along with Eder Bros., Inc. and Allan S. Goodman, continued the 2018 USBG Civil War Bartending Competition series with two events in August. Waterbury’s Highland Brass Co. set the stage for USBG New Haven chapter competitors August 6, with a call for low-ABV cocktail recipes using the featured spirit, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto. The winner was George Zahariadis of Highland Brass Co.; in second place, Conrad Meurice of Chango Rosa; and in third, Jerome Daigneault of Filomena’s On Main. The USBG Hartford chapter hosted its final August event featuring Boston-based spirit Bully Boy Distillers Rum at The Olive Bar in Unionville on August 20. The winner was Alexa Doyer from Little River Restoratives with Rachel Markoja of Division West Bistro & Bar in second place, and in third, Corrine Ferrante of Delamar Hotel. The championship round is set for New Haven’s Elm City Social on September 10, with coverage in the next issue of The Beverage Journal.
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- Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto was the featured spirit on August 6. The aperitivo is a blend of bergamot peel, Cedro lemons, chamomile, lavender, gentian, yellow roses and Melissa balm.
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- Winning bartender George Zahariadis of Highland Brass Co.
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- Zahariadis’ winning cocktail, The Town Plot Pleaser.
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- Winner George Zahariadis with Richard Cadavid, Director of Sales, Royal Dutch Distillers.
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- In second place, Jerome Daigneault, Filomena’s On Main.
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- Daigneault’s cocktail.
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- In third place, Conrad Meurice, Chango Rosa.
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- Conrad Meurice’s cocktail.
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- Bully Boy Distillers of Boston handcrafts its line of premium small-batch spirits including whiskey, rum, gin, vodka and amaro. Bully Boy Boston Rum was the showcased spirit on August 10.
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- Winner Alexa Doyer from Little River Restoratives on August 20.
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- Second place’s Rachel Markoja of Division West Bistro & Bar.
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- Corrine Ferrante of Delamar Hotel, who placed third.
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- Cocktails from the August 20 competition.
