Slocum & Sons, in collaboration with Constellation Brands, hosted a spirited Halloween-themed iron bartender competition featuring High West Distillery at The Charles in Wethersfield on Oct. 24. Six local bartenders competed in teams of two, wearing festive attire all while creating craft cocktails featuring High West Bourbon and High West Double Rye for guests and a panel of judges: Bryce Hardy, Owner, The Charles; Stephanie Cohen, Bartender, Present Company; Byron Kidd, Area Representative, Constellation Brands; and John Tsipouras, Slocum & Sons. Competitors were also awarded for their best Halloween costumes, as well as from the blind tasting of their creations. The event was emceed by bar professional Khalid Williams, The Barrel Age, and Connecticut Restaurant Association’s 2021 Bartender of the Year. The winning teams were Abraham Rojas and Bridget Hurley of Sparrow Pizza Bar; Andrew Martins and Phill Alves of Viron Rondo Osteria and Olives and Oil; and Clarissa Lonero and August Hayduk of Tisane Euro-Asian Cafe.
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- High West Bourbon and High West Double Rye were featured in an iron bartending cocktail competition at The Charles on Oct. 24.
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- John Tsipouras, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons; Bryce Hardy, Owner, The Charles; Mike Oliver, Manager, The Charles; Byron Kidd, Constellation Brands; and Event Emcee Khalid Williams, The Barrel Age.
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- Shawna Hapgood, Bartender, The Charles showcasing High West Distillery.
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- Dan McManus, Sales Representative, Brescome Barton; Ruvin Bogati, Fork & Fire; and Khalid Williams, The Barrel Age.
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- Event emcee Khalid Williams, The Barrel Age and Competition Judge Stephanie Cohen, Bartender, Present Company.
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- Competitors chose from the previously hidden ingredients, per iron bartending rules.
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- Abraham Rojas, Sparrow Pizza Bar; Andrew Martins, Viron Rondo Osteria; and Dustin Amore, Little River Restoratives make their selections from the ingredients arranged by Kerri Hardy, Co-owner, The Charles.
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- First-place winners Bridget Hurley and Abraham Rojas, Sparrow Pizza Bar.
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- First-place winners Abraham Rojas and Bridget Hurley, Sparrow Pizza Bar.
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- Rojas’ and Hurley’s winning cocktail.
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- Second-place winners Andrew Martins and Phill Alves, Viron Rondo Osteria and Olives and Oil.
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- Andrew Martins, Viron Rondo.
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- Martins’ and Alves’ cocktail.
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- Martins’ and Alves’ second-place cocktail.
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- Third-place winners Clarissa Lonero and August Hayduk, Tisane Euro-Asian Cafe.
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- Third-place winners Clarissa Lonero and August Hayduck, Tisane Euro-Asian Café.
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- Third-place cocktail in the works.
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- Lonero’s and Hayduk’s third-place cocktail.
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- Competitors James Nicholson and Ashli Gandy, Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen.
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- A competitor.
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- Competitors James Nicholson and Ashli Gandy, Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen.
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- Nicholson’s and Gandy’s cocktail.
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- Competitors Dustin Amore and Suzy Johnson, Little River Restoratives.
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- Competitors Dustin Amore and Suzy Johnson, Little River Restoratives.
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- Amore’s and Johnson’s cocktail.
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- Amore’s and Johnson’s cocktail.
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- Competitors Brian Jackman and Ruvin Bogati of Fork and Fire, Farmington.
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- Bogati’s and Jackman’s cocktail.
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- Event MC Khalid Williams, The Barrel Age.
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- Competitors toast with their cocktails.
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- Competitors and judges celebrate the night’s efforts.
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- Guests enjoyed the event dressed in their best Halloween costumes.
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- A guest toast.
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- Third-place winners Clarissa Lonero and August Hayduk, Tisane Euro-Asian Café.
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- First-place winners Abraham Rojas and Bridget Hurley, Sparrow Pizza Bar.
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- Guests taking pictures of competitor’s cocktails.
Photos by Lisa Nichols, Bread and Beast Food Photographer.
