Bombay Sapphire GQ Magazine USBG Most Imaginative Bartender Connecticut Names Winner
Winner: Carl Summa
The fifth annual Bombay Sapphire GQ USBG Most Imaginative Bartender Program’s Connecticut competition was held at Stonebridge Restaurant in Milford on July 28, 2013. Bombay Sapphire, GQ Magazine and the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) present the program to “celebrate of the art of bartending and the creative process” giving center stage to one national winner. Each state hosts a competition where its winner goes to compete to the finals in Las Vegas.
Nine recipes were selected from thirty presented, and seven bartenders competed. The top three placements were Carl Summa, in first place, Dimitrios Zahariadis in second place and Anthony DeSerio in third place, all of whom are United States Bartenders Guild Connecticut chapter officers or members. As the winner, Carl Summa heads to the finals.
Winning Drink: FABolous
Recipe:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1 oz fig and almond syrup
- .5 oz fresh lemon juice
- .5 oz egg white
Rim the glass with reduced balsamic vinegar. Grate roasted almonds on top of the cocktail.
Summa said, “I named it FABolous because of the Fig, Almond and Balsamic flavors,” creating an acronym. Judges were Bombay Sapphire Brand Ambassador and Master Mixologist Gary Hayward, Pamela Wiznitzer of the USBGNY and bar manager of acclaimed Dead Rabbit in Manhattan, award-winning mixologist John Henderson of USBG-MA and Tavern Road in Boston, with Kevin Glah, state manager for Bacardi, serving as blind-tasting judge, voting on strictly taste and balance of cocktail.
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- All from CDI except where indicated. Top row: Ryan Toole, three Sapphire Angels, Tim Clarke. Middle row: Pete Apotrias, Chrissy Amatrudo, Callie Zetarski, Celiandra Lupinacci, a Sapphire Angel, Pete Kawulicz, Steve Porrello, Kevin Glah, Bacardi.Front row: Andrea Lokshin, Paul Mazurek and Sandra Terenzio.
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- Contestant Rob Martini
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- Dimitrious Zahariadis; Dave Bouchard; George Connelly; Anthony DeSerio; Carl Summa, Winner; Rob Martini; Rosie Hin, all of USBG CT; Nicolas Quieroz of Brescome Barton
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- Hayward with Martini Hunters Tammy Torres and Dave Hennessy
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- Summa shakes to win
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- The judges scoring the drinks
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- Winner Carl Summa
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- Shown with the Bombay Sapphire Angels (all in blue) are from left to right: Kevin Glah, State Manager, Bacardi USA; Andrea Lokshin, Field Marketing Manager, Bacardi USA; and Bombay Brand Ambassador and Master Mixologist, Gary Hayward.
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- Shown with two Bombay Sapphire Angels are left to right: Kevin Glah, CT State Manager, Bacardi USA; Steve Lentz, General Sales Manager & Director, Brescome Barton; Nick Queiroz, Spirits Account Development Manager, Brescome Barton.
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- The fifth annual Bombay Sapphire GQ USBG Most Imaginative Bartender Award
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- Carl Summa and Brand Ambassador Nick Hayward. Photo by MartiniHunter.com.
