BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com announced today the 49 regional semifinalists competing for the 2018 Bartender of the Year competition. Semifinalists will compete in San Francisco, Austin, San Diego, Portland, Denver, Charleston, Chicago, and New York City from January through end of April 2018.
More than 1,000 original cocktail recipes using Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky were submitted online nationwide beginning September 15, 2017. Preliminary entries required two original cocktail recipes, one rendition of a classic recipe, and one relating to family along with a short description of how the cocktail was inspired by their interpretation of family.
“Over the past three years our Heaven Hill family has welcomed bartenders at the forefront of the industry who display their craft in innovative ways,” said Kate S. Latts, Heaven Hill Brands Vice President of Marketing. “Through our diverse portfolio of spirits, Heaven Hill gives bartenders the tools most essential to their jobs. We look forward to building relationships with the 2018 class as we continue to offer an impactful competition focused on professional development and passion within hospitality.”
The initial field of competitors was evaluated by three esteemed judges: National Brand Educator for Heaven Hill Brands Lynn House, Bar Manager of Clyde Common & Pépé Le Moko Jeffrey Morgenthaler, and Partner at Alchemy Consulting and Owner/Bartender of Pouring Ribbons Joaquín Simó. They chose six semifinalists for each region based on highest rankings. Cocktail submissions were scored on name, appearance and presentation, inspiration, balance of flavors, aroma and character, creativity, and product knowledge.
Regional semifinalists, listed below, will be challenged on their full range of skills as hospitality professionals. Judges will be looking for the ultimate bartender who displays the total breadth and aptitude all bartenders aspire to embody. The top contestant from each region will go on to vie for the title of Bartender of the Year and $15,000 at The Lodge on Sea Island, Ga. in June 2018.
Grounded in the original Bartender of the Year Competition hosted by Domaine de Canton starting in 2009, Heaven Hill Brands resurrected the competition due to strong demand from bartenders worldwide. Nathan O’Neill from the Nomad Bar in New York City was named Bartender of the Year in 2017, and Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin in New Orleans won the inaugural competition in 2016. Visit the official competition website at http://www.bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com for complete competition details.
About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Carolan’s Irish Cream Liqueur.
| Name | City | Regional City |
| Jesse Peterson | Livermore, Calif. | San Francisco |
| Adam George Fournier | Santa Monica, Calif. | Las Vegas |
| Brenda Terry | Tampa | Miami |
| Chris Morris | Houston | Dallas |
| Mario Salas | Nashville | Nashville |
| McLain Hedges | Denver | Denver |
| Matty Eggleston | Chicago | Chicago |
| Nathan O’Neill | New York | New York |
Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Deep Eddy Vodka; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.
Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry
Communications Coordinator
Heaven Hill Brands
(502) 413-0217
lcherry@heavenhill.com
www.heavenhill.com
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