Pernod Ricard and the Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) Foundation, in collaboration with Connecticut Distributors, Inc., hosted the second event in the Connecticut-based Absolut Espresso Martini Competition at South Bay in Fairfield on Feb. 17. A second set of local bartenders crafted four Absolut Espresso Martinis in the fastest amount of time for judges using Absolut Vodka and Kahlúa. Judge Lee Axelrod, PRUSA Brand Manager, Absolut, Pernod Ricard, rated each competitor’s cocktail based on criteria including the straw test, spillage, foam, number of espresso beans and more. The winner was Bodega Taco Bar’s Juan Abad, with a perfect score of 120. Sponsored by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the Absolut Espresso Martini Competition is a national contest, with local events in markets across the U.S. taking place throughout February. The top finalists from each local competition will be eligible to participate in the East or West Regional Championships and the top three fastest regional finalists will win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Absolut Akademi in Sweden for an immersive training experience. The four fastest finalists from each region will receive a trip to the 23rd annual TOTC conference in New Orleans on July 20-25.