Spirits from Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery were featured in the latest installment of Cocktail Wars, hosted in the Safari Room at Newport’s OceanCliff Hotel on Dec. 11. During the holiday-themed cocktail competition, led by Cocktail Wars Newport Founder, Bartender and Historian John Begin, five local bartenders were challenged to create their best craft cocktails featuring Litchfield Distillery Straight Rye Whiskey. Competitors Melissa Meier, Bar ‘Cino and La Vecina; Christina Sturm, Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Pub; Sam Phelps; Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; and Justin Cicero squared off for judges and spectators, who enjoyed tastes and voted for their favorites. Litchfield Distillery Brand Ambassador Douglas Maloney was in attendance to educate guests and served as a judge, among other select local bar professionals. The winner was Melissa Meier, Bar ‘Cino and La Vecina, and the runner-up was Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad. The People’s Choice winner was Christina Sturm, Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Pub. Nestled in the hills of northwest Connecticut, Litchfield Distillery batches its spirits, each made from the highest-quality, regionally harvested grains and fruit, never using artificial ingredients or sweeteners. The line is distributed by Johnson Bros. of Rhode Island.
-
- Spirits from Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery were featured in the latest installment of Cocktail Wars, hosted in the Safari Room at Newport’s OceanCliff Hotel on Dec. 11. Shown are Litchfield Distillery Manhattan, Batchers’ Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey, Batchers’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Batchers’ Maple Bourbon.
-
- Jonathan Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars; Sam Phelps; Christina Sturm, Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Pub; Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; and Melissa Meier, Bar ‘Cino and La Vecina.
-
- Douglas Maloney, Brand Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery and Jonathan Begin, Founder, Cocktail Wars.
-
- Winner Melissa Meier, Bar ‘Cino and La Vecina.
-
- Meier’s winning cocktail, The Alibi, featured Litchfield Distillery Straight Rye Whiskey, cherry- and black pepper-infused cranberry juice, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, aquafaba and muddled sage garnished with sugared cranberries and sage leaf.
-
- Meier’s winning cocktail, The Alibi, featured Litchfield Distillery Straight Rye Whiskey, cherry- and black pepper-infused cranberry juice, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, aquafaba and muddled sage garnished with sugared cranberries and sage leaf.
-
- Runner-Up Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad creates taste samples for voting spectators.
-
- People’s Choice Winner Christina Sturm, Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Pub.
-
- Sturm’s cocktail.
-
- Competitor Sam Phelps.
-
- Phelps’ cocktail.
-
- Competitor Justin Cicero.
-
- Cicero’s cocktail.
-
- Competition judges Michele Cardinal, The Chanler at Cliff Walk; Kelly Fuller, Tony Robbins Enterprises; and Douglas Maloney, Brand Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery.
-
- Judges Kat Balderama, Jo’s American Bistro and Michelle Cardinal, The Chanler at Cliff Walk toast a taste.
-
- Competitor Justin Cicero and Winner Melissa Meir, Bar ‘Cino and La Vecina.
-
- Runner-Up Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad and Winner Melissa Meier, Bar ‘Cino and La Vecina.
Photos by Adam Haley.
