Last month, cocktail lovers and enthusiasts gathered at the DeSoto Central Market to see who would be declared the 2017 Arizona Star Bartender at the Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition. The bartenders took to the stage in heats to create a custom cocktail using the provided ingredients. All of the cocktails were made with locally distilled spirits from Arizona. Below is the results of each of the heats and the final round:
Heat 1 – Sponsored by Hamilton Distillers
Jaong Woo – Otro Cafe
Connor Mansager – Welcome Diner
Danny Kang – The Gladly
Winner: Connor Mansager – Welcome Diner
Heat 2 – Sponsored by O.H.S.O. Distillery
Gavin Pena – Clever Koi
Liza Loewenhagen – The Vig
Manny Pena – The Windsor
Winner: Manny Pena – The Windsor
Heat 3 – Sponsored by Paradox Distillery
Jake Foster – The Parlor
Michael Liberatore – Citizen Public House
Matt Minsky – Hula’s Modern Tiki
Winner: Jake Foster – The Parlor
Heat 4 – Sponsored by 3 Amigos Tequila
Tim Avery – Joyride Taco House
Kapono Rowe – DeSoto Central Market
Janessa Hilliard – St. Francis
Winner: Janessa Hilliard – St. Francis
Final Round – Sponsored by O.H.S.O. Distillery
Connor Mansager – Welcome Diner
Manny Pena – The Windsor
Jake Foster – The Parlor
Janessa Hilliard – St. Francis
2017 Arizona Star Bartender: Connor Mansager – Welcome Diner
The winning cocktail, Love and Squalor, was made with O.H.S.O. Distillery’s Horseradish Vodka, Iconic Cocktail Company’s Meyer Lemon Balm, lemon juice, rose petal jam, beet syrup, ginger sugar rim, and a lemon twist.
Gavin Pena pouring his cocktail
Not only were the cocktails judged by a panel of judges but they were also judged by the crowd. Green Expectations, created by Manny Pena of The Windsor, was a fan favorite and earned the People’s Choice Award. The Green Expectations was made with O.H.S.O. Distillery’s Grapefruit Vodka, BroVo Amaro #14, grapefruit juice, lime juice, cilantro syrup, and aquafaba. This is the second year in a row that a bartender from The Windsor has won the People’s Choice Award.
Personally, our favorite cocktail came from Gavin Pena of The Clever Koi. The cocktail featured Arcadia Grapefruit Vodka, broVo Douglas Fir liqueur, ruby red grapefruit, sudochi, lavender honey, heavy cream, and aquafaba. The use of aquafaba left a mouth feel of an egg white cocktail which was really fantastic. There were several cocktails that used the broVo Douglas Fir Liqueur but Gavin’s cocktail was the most balanced with it. We really just kept going back to how much we loved this cocktail.
This Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition is just one of the fantastic events in the Devour Phoenix line-up of events. We can’t wait to attend again next year!
*We received complimentary event passes to facilitate this write-up; however, our opinions are wholly our own. View our Disclosure Policy for more info.
