Cocktail Wars hosted a Mother’s Day-edition cocktail competition at Newport’s Bar and Board Bistro on May 14. Led by Newport Bartender and Newport Cocktail Wars Founder John Begin, the Pink Drinks for a Cause event showcased the spirits of Connecticut’s Litchfield Distillery. Seven local bartenders competed to create their best pink-hued sippers, with Harmony Picard and Jimmy Oca of Wally’s Wieners named competition winners with their cocktail, Text Me When You Get Home, a blend of Litchfield Distillery Vodka, lime juice, triple sec, orgeat and strawberry puree ice cube, with a mint garnish and vanilla and strawberry foam flavored with Giffard syrup. Spearheaded by Not Your Average Events, Newport Live Events, Litchfield Distillery and Narragansett Beer’s Del’s Lemon Shandy, Begin and other local bartenders held several Pink Drinks for a Cause events in Newport during the afternoon, with sales from event cocktails benefiting several local women’s charities.
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- Cocktail Wars, in collaboration with Litchfield Distillery, hosted a Mother’s Day cocktail competition at Newport’s Bar and Board Bistro on May 14.
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- Contestants from left to right: Harmony Picard, Wally’s Wieners; Jimmy Oca, Wally’s Wieners; John Begin, Founder, Newport Cocktail Wars; Cam Hutchinson, Narragansett Beer; Ricardo Leon, Cabana; Gabbi Oliva, Caleb & Broad; and Angel Duclos, Bar and Board Bistro. Not pictured: Jordan Salem, The Reef.
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- John Begin, Founder, Newport Cocktail Wars led the day’s events.
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- Competition judges Robert Healy, Benjamin’s Raw Bar, Newport; Reagan Nicole, Bar 12, Newport; and Kyle Bennett, Scratch Kitchen & Catering.
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- The winning team of Harmony Picard and Jimmy Oca, Wally’s Wieners.
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- The winning cocktail, Text Me When You Get Home, a blend of Litchfield Distillery Vodka, lime juice, triple sec, orgeat and strawberry puree ice cube, with a mint garnish and vanilla and strawberry foam flavored with Giffard syrup.
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- Second place’s Angel Duclos, Bar and Board Bistro.
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- Duclos’ cocktail, A Mother’s Love: a blend of Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Gin, hibiscus, Crème de Violette Liqueur, pineapple, lime and egg white with a hibiscus water sugar rim.
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- Competitor Cam Hutchinson, Narragansett Beer.
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- Hutchinson’s cocktail, The Quiet Neighbor.
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- Competitor Ricardo Leon, Cabana.
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- Leon’s cocktail, Mom’s Berries, a.k.a. Mom’s Strawberry Fields.
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- Competitor Gabbi Oliva, Caleb & Broad.
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- Oliva’s cocktail, Hibiscus Rose Margarita.
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- Competitor Jordan Salem, The Reef.
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- Salem’s cocktail, Not your Momma’s Spritz, topped with Mionetto Prosecco.
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- Event cocktails in various shades of pink to celebrate Mother’s Day.
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- Guests enjoyed tastes of contestants’ cocktail creations while raising funds for Pink Drinks for a Cause charities.
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- The winning team: Harmony Picard and Jimmy Oca, Wally’s Wieners.
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- Guests toast with a Mother’s Love cocktail.
Photos by Laura Widness.
