Little River Restoratives, Litchfield Distillery and Slocum & Sons welcomed area bartenders and guests for its “Women & Whiskey” event, an all-female bartending competition on February 26. Competing bartenders included Michela Zurstadt from Cook and the Bear in West Hartford, Rachel Markoja of Ideal Tavern in Southington, Ashley Lurie from Ch’i Public House in Norwalk, Nikki Simches from Cure in Farmington, Heather Julia of Bin 228 in Hartford and Jessica Rapuano from Elm City Social in New Haven. Each competitor featured Litchfield Distillery products in their cocktails. Markoja took the first place win, with Lurie in second place and Zurstadt as third place winner.
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- The event judges included Chris Parrott, Owner, Little River Restoratives; Renee Touponce, Executive Chef, Firebox; Christen LaRochelle, Manager, Slocum & Sons; Jack Baker, Co-owner, Litchfield Distillery.
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- Little River Restoratives hosted the “Women & Whiskey” cocktail competition featuring Litchfield Distillery products, whose Batchers’ spirits line includes Bourbon Whiskey, Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey, Bourbon Whiskey Port Cask Finish, Vodka and Gin.
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- Jessica Rapuano of Elm City Social during the competition.
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- Competitor Nikki Simches of Cure.
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- Competitors Heather Julia and Michela Zurstadt during the competition.
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- Competitor Michela Zurstadt of Cook and the Bear, who took third place.
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- Ashley Lurie of Ch’i Public House during the competition. Lurie won second place.
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- First place winner Rachel Markoja of Ideal Tavern with Alexa Doyer, Mixologist, Little River Restoratives.
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- Markoja mixes her cocktail as Chris Parrott, Owner, Little River Restoratives, Christen LaRochelle of Slocum & Sons and Jack Baker, Co-owner, Litchfield Distillery, look on.
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- Christen LaRochelle, Manager, Slocum & Sons; Joel Russel, Sales Representative, Slocum & Sons; and Jack Baker, Co-owner, Litchfield Distillery next to his wife, Pam Baker.
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- Cocktail creations during the competition.
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- Cocktail creations during the competition.
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- Cocktail creations during the competition.
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- Cocktail creations during the competition.
Photos by Michael Leung.
