The nine finalists have been chosen for the second round of the Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition, presented by Devour Phoenix and Local First Arizona as part of the Devoured Culinary Classic week of events.
The competition will take place on Sunday, February 28, at 2:00 p.m. at the DeSoto Central Market, near Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue. Finalists were selected in the first round with a two-week online voting process that concluded on Friday, January 29. The top nine vote recipients will compete in the final round for the title of Arizona Star Bartender.
The nine finalists include Dustin Bolin of Melinda’s Alley; Titus Fauntleroy of St. Francis; Joshua James of The Clever Koi; Michael Liberatore of Citizen Public House; Tanner Lips of The Henry; Rob Moore of The Windsor; Jillian Newman of DeSoto Central Market; Robert Porter of The Thirsty Camel; and Zach Smith of Welcome Diner.
Round two of the Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition will pit the finalists against one another in three heats, each mixing their best cocktail featuring local ingredients and spirits from Arizona Distilling Company and 3 Amigos Tequila.
Once the results are in from the judges panel, the top three bartenders will compete in the Final Round, which will task the bartenders with creating a cocktail with local ingredients from a mystery basket as well as a selected spirit from Three Wells Distilling Company.
The winning bartender will be featured in an exclusive mixology demo at the 2016 Devoured Culinary Classic, showcased on the website of Arizona’s own Bite Magazine, take home the Arizona Bartender’s Craft Kit valued at over $200, and be crowned with the coveted title of Arizona’s Star Bartender. Second and third place winners can also expect to receive Arizona’s Spirit prizes, including the newly-introduced Copper Cup and the Arizona Bartender’s Craft Kit.
The judges panel for this year’s Bartending Competition will include Brandon Casey, general manager of The Ostrich, president of the Phoenix chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild, and the 2015 Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition’s Arizona Star Bartender; Christina Barrueta of WriteOnRubee.com; Michelle Jacoby of Bite Magazine; Layla Linn of Arizona Cocktail Week and Alliance Beverage; and Aaron DeFeo of Casino del Sol and president of the Tucson chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild.
Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition attendees will also have the opportunity to sample and vote for their favorite cocktail, and the bartender with the most votes will win the People’s Choice Award.
Attendees will be guided through the afternoon’s entertainment by emcee Ross Simon, the principal barman and proprietor of Bitter and Twisted Cocktail Parlor, who will be calling the event in “Queen’s English.” Guests will also be treated to the musical creations of DJ Mr PHX.
The Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition is part of the Devoured Culinary Classic week of events. Tickets for the Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition are $40 and are on sale now at devouredphoenix.com/tickets. Tickets include cocktail samples as well as craft spirit samples and the ability to vote for your favorite cocktail.
