Bar professionals joined together at JAR + Bar in West Hartford for an industry happy hour, courtesy of Campari America, on June 22. Featuring cocktail collaborations with Campari America’s iconic brands and Connecticut industry entrepreneurs and their represented local brands, four signature cocktails highlighted the unique spirits during the informal gathering. The showcased four on hand were The Cocktail Chemist ready-to-drink canned cocktail line, which includes the flavor, Something Good, created by Dimitrios Zahariadis; Up n’ Down Rock and Bourbon founded by Justin Morales; Drink Mechanics craft batched cocktails from Aaron Stepka; and Khalid Williams, State Brand Ambassador for Highclere Castle Gin, which is founded by Connecticut spirits professional and entrepreneur, Adam von Gootkin. Each brand was part of a a creative cocktail mixed with the range of iconic Italian liqueurs and aperitifs Aperol, Amaro Averna or Campari among ingredients. Campari America has supported multiple national- and state-level events and charitable efforts for bartenders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photos by Michael Leung.