New Haven Cocktail Week, in collaboration with Ilegal Mezcal and Teeling Irish Whiskey, hosted a speed rack cocktail competition at Ordinary on Sept. 8. The event was held following the seminar, Behind the Smoke, which was led by Joaquin Valdovinos, Portfolio Ambassador, Bacardi, exploring Ilegal Mezcal’s brand story. Eight local bartenders competed in the knockout-style competition, where they were evaluated by a panel of judges on their speed and accuracy, as well as the quality of their finished cocktails and the precision of their execution. The winners were: first place: Silveria Esquivel, Ordinary, and second place: Armand Dabiran, Elm City Social. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails featuring Ilegal Mezcal and Teeling Irish Whiskey with food from Ordinary alongside a pop-up tattoo event hosted by New Haven’s Hope Gallery Tattoo.
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- Joaquin Valdovinos, Portfolio Ambassador, Bacardi and Tim Cabral, Co-owner, Ordinary and Gioia and Co-founder, New Haven Cocktail Week.
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- Competition organizer Genna Bestmann, Bar Manager, The Owl Shop.
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- First-place winner Silveria Esquivel, Ordinary, New Haven.
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- Deon Ross, General Manager, Olives and Oil and Event Emcee with second-place winner Armand Dabiran, Elm City Social.
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- Second-place winner Armand Dabiran, Elm City Social.
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- Competitors Hugo Ortiz, 116 Crown by Hachiroku and Brandon Sands, Ordinary.
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- Jesus Aponte, Bar Manager, Gioia.
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- Competitor Justin Young, The Anchor Spa.
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- Competitor Jake Melvin, Olives and Oil.
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- Justin Young, The Anchor Spa making his cocktail featuring Teeling Irish Whiskey.
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- Competitor Sam Taft, Mecha Noodle Bar, New Haven.
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- Joe Capobianco, Owner, Hope Gallery Tattoo ran a pop-up tattoo event.
Photos by Alejandro Villacorta.
