Cocktail Wars Newport and sponsor Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery hosted a crowd of espresso martini enthusiasts at OceanCliff Resort’s Safari Room Restaurant on Jan. 15. Spearheaded by Cocktail Wars Newport Founder and Bartender John Begin, the event featured eight bartenders creating their version of an espresso martini featuring Connecticut-grown and Connecticut-made Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Vodka for a panel of judges, which included David Baker, Co-founder and Master Distiller, Litchfield Distillery; Douglas Maloney, Brand Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery; and Reagan Nicole, Bartender and Restaurant Manager, Safari Room Restaurant. Set against ocean views, competitors were cheered on as they worked to create their cocktails for the judges to evaluate and for guests to sample. Reigning champion from December 2022’s Cocktail Wars Newport challenge Melissa Meier, Newport Restaurant Group, Bar ’Cino and La Vecina Taqueria, won the day with her cocktail Coconut Mint Espresso, with Ariel Brodsky, Hotel Vanderbilt, named Runner-Up. The Litchfield Distillery spirits line is distributed in Rhode Island by Johnson Brothers.
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- Cocktail Wars Newport series sponsor Litchfield Distillery on display. Bottled at 80 proof, Batchers’ Vodka is distilled from corn grown during the summer months in Sharon, Connecticut, distilled 4¾ times and uses a gravity-fed charcoal filter that takes 12 hours to filter 100 gallons, creating its smooth taste.
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- Litchfield Distillery Co-founder David Baker and Brand Ambassador Douglas Maloney were special guests to present the brand and served as judges.
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- Melissa Meier, Newport Restaurant Group, Bar ’Cino and La Vecina Taqueria; Jimmy Oca, Wally’s Wieners; Chris Montana-Parra, Connecticut Bartender; John Begin, Founder and Bartender, Cocktail Wars Newport; Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; Mitchell Swass, Breakwaters Cigar & Whiskey Lounge; Charlie Bullis, Bar and Board Bistro; and Ariel Brodsky, Hotel Vanderbilt. Melissa Meier, Newport Restaurant Group, Bar ’Cino and La Vecina Taqueria; Jimmy Oca, Wally’s Wieners; Chris Montana-Parra, Connecticut Bartender; John Begin, Founder and Bartender, Cocktail Wars Newport; Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; Mitchell Swass, Breakwaters Cigar & Whiskey Lounge; Charlie Bullis, Bar and Board Bistro; and Ariel Brodsky, Hotel Vanderbilt.
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- Cocktail Wars Newport Founder and Bartender John Begin introduces the field.
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- Winning bartender Melissa Meier, Newport Restaurant Group, Bar ’Cino and La Vecina Taqueria.
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- Meier’s winning cocktail, Coconut Mint Espresso Martini, made with Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Vodka, Galliano Ristretto, Fernet-Branca, coconut cream and fresh-brewed espresso.
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- Runner-Up Ariel Brodsky, Hotel Vanderbilt.
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- Brodsky’s cocktail, After Midnight.
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- Competitor Charlie Bullis, Bar and Board Bistro.
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- Bullis’ cocktail, Upside Down.
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- Mitchell Swass, Breakwaters Cigar & Whiskey Lounge.
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- Swass’ cocktail, Dulce Espresso Martini.
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- Competitor Gabi Oliva, Caleb & Broad.
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- Oliva’s cocktail, Vanilla Bean Espresso.
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- Competitor Chris Montana-Parra, Mix Prime, Woodbury, Connecticut.
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- Montana-Parra’s cocktail, Coconut Dracula.
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- Competitor Cam Hutchinson, Narragansett Beer.
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- Hutchinson’s cocktail, Buzzed Neighbor.
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- Competitor Jimmy Oca, Wally’s Wieners.
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- Oca’s cocktail, The Copper Club.
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- Guests also enjoyed tastes from each competitor’s espresso creation.
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- Litchfield Distillery Co-founder and Master Distiller David Baker; Reagan Nicole, Bartender and Restaurant Manager, Safari Room Restaurant; and Douglas Maloney, Brand Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery conferring.
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- Melissa Meier’s winning moment.
Photos by Laura Widness.
