The Woodford Reserve Bourbon “Manhattan Experience” was held at Hudson Grill in Stamford on October 7, 2013. Woodford Reserve and Esquire hosted the exhibition events in 30 U.S. cities along with United States Bartenders Guild (USBG ) chapters culminating in a finale in January 2014 in New York City. A winner from six finalists will be selected and given a spread in Esquire magazine. Connecticut’s winner was USBGT-CT member Josh Pekar, who works at Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk. Attendees included representatives from Brown Forman, Woodford Reserve, Eder Brothers and the USBG -CT. Photos courtesy of Tammy Torres, MartiniHunter.com.

Winner Josh Pekar and Tom Kachmarck, Market Manager CT/RI, Brown-Forman.

Shown left to right: Tom Erhler, Display Department, Eder Bros., Inc.; Tammy Torres, MartiniHunter.com; Josh Pekar; Janna Waite-Key Account Manager, Eder Bros., Inc.; Brett Bornemann, Territory Portfolio Manager, Brown Forman; Neal Briskin, Market Manager, Eder Bros., Inc.

Winner Josh Pekar presenting “Breakfast in Manhattan”