The holiday season lived on into January with an ugly sweater party and holiday cocktail competition at Hartford’s The Blind Pig on January 6. Jeremy Fonicello, Senior Market Manager, Edrington, discussed the evening’s featured spirit, Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon Whiskey, before the competition began. Local bartenders created their best holiday cocktails for judges Dan Rek, Elm City Social; Jillian Carey, Brescome Barton; and Geoff Smith, ON20. The winners were Justin Seltzer, who took home first place; Priscilla Gomes in second place; and Alissa Parlante of The Riverview, who received both the Christmas Spirit award and third-place recognition.
-
- Jeremy Fonicello, Edrington; Jillian Carey, Brescome Barton; Dan Rek, Elm City Social; Corinne Ferrante, The Blind Pig; and Geoff Smith, ON20.
-
- Dan Rek, Elm City Social; First-place winner Justin Seltzer; Second-place winner Priscilla Gomes; Third-place winner Alissa Parlante; Corinne Ferrante, The Blind Pig; Geoff Smith, ON20; and Nick Daiuto, Little River Restoratives.
-
- First-place winner Justin Seltzer.
-
- Seltzer’s cocktail, Santa’s Preferred Cookie.
-
- Second-place winner Priscilla Gomes.
-
- Gomes’ cocktail, A Very Cherry Christmas.
-
- Third-place winner Alissa Parlante, The Riverview.
-
- Parlante’s cocktail, Naughty or Spice.
-
- Competitor Nick Daiuto of Little River Restoratives.
-
- Daiuto’s cocktail.
-
- Competitor Jessica Iris Torres, Republic at The Linden.
-
- Torres’ cocktail.
-
- Competitor Rob Szabo, Farmington Gardens.
-
- Szabo’s cocktail.
-
- Competitor Carolyn Flaherty of Elm City Social.
-
- Flaherty’s cocktail.
-
- Competitor Ayla Chilla Fontaine, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ.
-
- Fontaine’s cocktail.
