It wouldn’t be a 4th of July celebration without a cocktail (or two). Yes, you could toast America’s birthday with a classic iced cold beer, but we prefer a fresh cocktail. And these 9 are perfect for your backyard BBQs or to add to a last-minute bar menu switch-up.

Make the day memorable with one of these refreshing summertime cocktails. For those who celebrate with mocktails, no worries— we’ve included a no-ABV drink, so everyone can enjoy.

Here are 9 must mix cocktails for your 4th of July celebrations.

Sucker Punch Pickletini

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. High Quality Vodka
• 1-2 oz. of SuckerPunch Gourmet Pickle Juice
• 1 oz Seltzer Water (optional)
• Ice and a Pickle for Garnish

Preparation: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice; add vodka and pickle juice. Cover and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with SuckerPunch pickle slices on a toothpick!

Ambrosia Fizz

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Hendricks Orbium
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz. St. Germain
• 1/2 oz. Aperol
• 3 oz. Prosecco

Preparation: In a mixing glass, add all ingredients except the Prosecco and Aperol. Shake with ice and strain into coupe glass. Top with Prosecco, then pour Aperol into the center of the glass.

Strawberry Fields for Summer

Ingredients:

• 2 Fresh Basil Leaves (torn, plus 1 leaf for garnish)
• 1 Large or 2 Small Fresh Strawberries (plus 1
• strawberry slice for garnish)
• 2 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1 oz. Soda Water

Preparation: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the 2 basil leaves and the whole strawberry. Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake well, then empty into a Collins glass or mason jar. Scoop in more ice if needed, then add the soda water. Garnish with the basil leaf and strawberry slice.

Tommy G & T

Ingredients:

• 1 Piece Lemon Peel
• 1 Thick Cucumber Wheel
• 1 Fresh Raspberry
• 5 Juniper Berries or Pink Peppercorns
• 2 oz. Gin
• 5-7 oz. Tonic Water
• Dash of Grapefruit Bitters
• Edible Flower for Garnish (Optional)

Preparation: Put the lemon peel, cucumber, raspberry, and juniper berries in a wineglass. Fill the glass with ice. Add the gin, then the tonic water, pouring each down the inside of the glass. Add the bitters and stir gently once or twice. Garnish with the flower.

Pineapple Fizz

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• .2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• Top with Hella Bitters & Soda

Preparation: Place all ingredients, except Hella Bitters and Soda, into shaker and shake with ice. Strain into collins glass and top with Bitters & Soda.

Rocket Pop Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 1 oz. Coconut Water
• 1/2 oz. Blue Curacao
• 1/2 Grenadine

Preparation: Shake Skrewball, lime juice and coconut water with ice. Pour blue curacao into a Collins glass, then add crushed ice to shaken Skrewball cocktail and top with grenadine. Garnish with a popsicle stick.

La Valoma

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Volcan Blanco Tequila
• 3/4 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 1/2 oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice
• 3/4 oz. Agave Syrup
• A Pinch of Salt

Preparation: Combine Volcan Blanco, fresh lime and grapefruit juice, salt and agave syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a highball glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Watermelon Breeze

Created by Dan Magro

Ingredients:

• Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Rosé
• 2 oz. Watermelon Juice
• 1 oz. Lime
• Spicy Zesty Salt
• Cilantro (optional/for garnish)
• Watermelon Slice (for garnish)

Preparation: Rub a lime slice around the rim of a Collins glass. Roll the glass rim in Spicy Zesty Salt and then fill with ice. Pour watermelon juice and lime juice into the Collins glass. Pour Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Rosé to the top then gently stir to incorporate. Garnish with a slice of watermelon and fresh cilantro.

Sparkling Shed Berry

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Broken Shed Vodka
• Splash Cranberry Juice
• Fresh Seasonal Berries
• Club Soda

Preparation: Add ingredients to rocks glass and top with club soda. Serve over ice garnished with berries.

The post 9 Cocktails To Make For Your 4th of July Celebrations appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Our Chilled 100 Bartenders and Chilled Team were hosted by William Grant & Sons, The Balvenie at Shelter in NYC for a one-of-a-kind experience.

It came complete with woodfired treats like homemade pizzas and empanadas paired with expertly-made whisky cocktails. Upon entering this magical bar, you completely forget you are in New York’s crowded and concrete jungle. The atmosphere and ambiance at Shelter instantly transport you to another place that is full of breathtaking nature and wildlife views with smells of its woodfired ovens grilling an assortment of prime meats and fresh fish and vegetables.

William Grant & Sons Naomi Leslie educated our Chilled 100 Bartender Group about The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask and the Balvenie 12-Year-Old Double. The signature cocktails served included The Old Scotsman made with Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask, mint, simple syrup, fresh lemon, Angostura bitters, and topped off with Prosecco, and the Caribbean Cask “Daiquiri” made with Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and finally A Hint of Spice cocktail made with Balvenie 12 Double Wood, Pimento Dram, Ancho Reyes liqueur, Amaro di Angostura.

“The whisky I poured was our TUN 1509 series! A marriage of 22- to 40-year-old whiskies form some of our rarest stocks. Such a beauty!” shares Naomi. “I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it.”

The Balvenie Distillery’s Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky range continues to use different wood types during production with a new 17-year-old Double Wood recently joining Caribbean Cask (ex-rum) 14-year-old, and the 21-year-old Port Wood as part of the core range. As well as single barrel releases and older age variants up to 50 years in the range, a cult small batch, Tun 1401, has also recently appeared, followed by Tun 1509. The Balvenie Distillery was one of the first distilleries to introduce a “finished” single malt with the launch of Double Wood—which was first aged in ex-bourbon casks before “finishing” in ex-sherry casks.

Special thank you Shelter bartender and our very own Chilled 100 member Ana Gonzalez. It was a wonderful and memorable evening!

The post The Chilled 100 Bartenders Dinner Hosted by William Grant & Sons, The Balvenie appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Beverage Director at indo, the acclaimed St. Louis-based Japanese-Southeast Asian bar, Kira Webster is inspired by Japanese and Chinese poetry and history when creating her cocktails.

She recently placed second with her Himiko cocktail in the 2022 Shochu Cocktail Competition at Bar Goto Niban in Brooklyn, New York.

Kira’s Himkio cocktail is made with Genmaicha (brown rice green tea) lollipop, shochu, pistachio liqueur blanc vermouth, coffey gin, and melon bitters and is named after Himiko, an ancient Japanese Queen that was the supreme ruler of Japan during her reign.

We asked Kira to share her inspiration for her Himiko cocktail.

Tell us about your award-winning Himiko cocktail.

Fit for a Himiko is an ode to Queen Himiko, one of Japan’s first rulers in the Kyushu region. I wanted to create a cocktail that evoked her powerful feminine spirit, so I incorporated ingredients that honored her legacy. I built the cocktail around Chiyonosono 1896 8000 Generations Shochu because it’s distilled in the region where she ruled. Leading with a clean, aromatic shochu helped establish the base for the rest of the cocktail flavors. Himiko features Duamante pistachio liqueur, Dolin Blanc Vermouth, Melon Bitters, Nikka Coffey Gin, and Genmaicha lollipop garnish. It’s bright and clean with an unexpected twist. Creating this cocktail not only solidified my confidence but also humbled me to be in the company of such extraordinary, talented people who also want to celebrate Asian ingredients.

We hear this story has an interesting backstory/inspiration. Tell us more.

Growing up, I spent my summers visiting family outside of Tokyo, and I often heard stories about the legendary Queen Himiko. Strong and confident Japanese women raised me, so I feel a special connection to her story. As one of Japan’s first female rulers, she was a powerful but peaceful queen and shamaness. She led a court of a thousand women and one man (her younger brother) and brought peace to Japan during her diplomacy. In the late 1800s, women were banned from assuming a throne. Although, many female leaders like Himiko helped shape the foundation of Japan. So, I dedicate this cocktail to the generations of women that came before me and after me, whose strengths are measured by their patience, kindness, and femininity as a whole.

You pull a lot of Japanese and Chinese poetry and history into your cocktails. Talk to us about these elements in cocktails.

I always want my cocktails to tell a story, and I find that any element of cultural connection creates a dialogue and boosts the customer’s experience. I feel deeply inspired by cultural references because it’s a great way to connect with my own history in a thoughtful way. I recently created “Quiet Night Thought”(click here for photo), a sparkling sake cocktail with Trakal, the first original Patagonian spirit distilled with native herbs and fruits, inspired by the works of prolific Chinese poet Li Bao. I can find inspiration in just about anything if it speaks to me.

Tell us about the Genmaicha lollipop garnish- what inspired this. How do you make it?

I chose to incorporate a lollipop garnish to symbolize Japanese tea ceremony candies. Tea ceremonies are traditionally run by women, and the lollipop felt like a unique way to honor the generations of women who occupied such an important cultural position. The flower-shaped candy stems from one of the first memories of my own experience at a Japanese tea ceremony. The candies enhance the flavor of the tea, and the lollipop serves the same purpose in the cocktail. Slightly changing the flavor as the cocktail becomes more diluted.

I didn’t want anything too sweet, so I went with Genmaicha. Genmaicha tea is matcha mixed with roasted rice – it’s robust, slightly bitter, and savory. To create the lollipops, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a saucepan over medium heat and attach a candy thermometer; boil the water until the sugar dissolves. Next, carefully pour the syrup into lollipop molds and sprinkle Genmaicha tea on top. Let cool until completely hardened, then carefully pull lollipops from the molds, and use a bar knife to shape.

What else can you tell us about this cocktail?

The Nikka Coffey Gin is a crucial element of the drink. Distilled with traditional Japanese ingredients, it has a juniper base and uses four different types of Japanese citrus, that make the cocktail bright and fresh. Substituting for a London Gin won’t balance correctly.

Talk to us about using these ingredients in cocktails.

I enjoy working with ingredients that bring me back to my childhood, such as miso, chamomile, sesame, and yuzu. I think it’s important to bring Asian elements to the forefront in the St. Louis cocktail scene. Using Asian ingredients allows me to put a little bit of myself into the cocktails and give people a better sense of my identity.

Fit for Himiko

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Chiyonosono “8000 Generations” Shochu
• 3/4 oz. Dumante Pistachio liqueur
• 3/4 oz. Dolin Blanc
• 1/4 oz. Nikka Coffey Gin
• 2 dashes Melon bitters

Preparation: Stir all ingredients with ice and strain up in coupe. Garnish with *Genmaicha lollipop (optional).

*GENMAICHA LOLLIPOP

Yield: about 36 lollipops

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Sugar
• 2/3 cup Light corn syrup
• 1 1/4 cups Water
• Genmaicha tea

Preparation: Fill lollipop molds with genmaicha tea and lollipop sticks (this can be done while waiting for the sugar to heat up). Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Attach candy thermometer. Increase heat to bring to a boil, stir until sugar dissolves. Boil until temp reaches 310 degrees F (hard crack). Pour syrup into the molds and sprinkle genmaicha tea on top. Let cool until completely hardened then carefully pull lollipops from the molds. Use a bar knife to shape the lollipops after they’ve hardened – make sure there aren’t any sharp edges.

The post Behind the Cocktail: Beverage Director Kira Webster Shares Her Himiko Cocktail Story appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Chilled Media publishing director Jeff Greif chats with NEFT Vodka’s global mixologist and brand ambassador Luke Barr chats about mixing with NEFT Vodka and what makes this spirit so special.

The post Watch Luke Barr, Global Cocktail Ambassador for NEFT Chat with Chilled’s Jeff Greif appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Kansas City husband and wife team, Jeff and Meg Evans have launched the first-known vapor-distilled agave gin at their Mean Mule Distilling Company.

Photo credit: Richard Lincoln 

Meg’s family, including the head distiller Tyler, who’s her brother has been making booze for going on about 200 years now, Jeff says. “Her great great great great grandmother imported from Germany, settled in America, and then built a still and started a company. She passed that knowledge down to pretty much every generation after her.”

That background in distilling, Meg says, combined with growing up in Missouri wine country in Hermann, made a natural progression back to her family’s heritage. “We wanted to see if we could make something out of it in our own way, which is where the agave aspect came in,” Meg says.

Mean Mule Distilling Company launched with their handmade stills focusing on agave spirits. Similar to tequila since the organic blue weber agave they use is sourced from Jalisco, their spirits have a unique flavor profile. The award-winning Silver American Agave Spirit is twice-distilled and gently proofed for 60 days before bottling. The Gold American Agave Spirit is lightly aged in white oak barrels for a minimum of eight weeks; and Heritage American Agave Spirit is aged in white oak barrels for at least one year to instill the spirit with oak characteristics.

In 2022, the distillery released their agave-based gin. “In the United States, we’re the only distillery using agave for gin. We’re possibly the second in the world as there’s a distiller in Mexico, but I think theirs is technically a botanical spirit.” The sweetness of the agave, melded with their carefully selected botanicals, provides a delicious sipping gin.

For bartenders, Jeff recommends using the gin as they would in any gin cocktails; the agave spirits as they would other agave spirits. The menu at Mean Mule Distilling Company has a classics section for inspirations such as reimaging a Negroni as an Agroni. They serve margaritas on tap, and also like to serve cocktails that would traditionally be whiskey-based made with the Heritage American Agave Spirit.

Meg explains, “I think for bartenders making traditional gin cocktails, it gives because the flavors are a little bit different because of how warm it is and how the agave part of it is more complex than a green spirit. So, I think it can enhance a cocktail when bartenders are trying to do a riff on a classic.”

Exclusive recipe created for Chilled Magazine readers:

MEAN MULE’S ROUGH BLAZING STAR

Photo credit: Pilsen Photo Co-op 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Mean Mule Blue Agave Gin
• 3/4 oz Montenegro
• 3/4 oz Cappelletti
• 1/2 oz Lillet

Preparation: Build ingredients in mixing glass with ice, stir until chilled, strain into rocks glass over one large ice cube. Garnish with orange slice.

The post A Family of Distillers Leads to the First Agave Gin in the U.S. appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Our Chilled 100 Bartenders and guests enjoyed a delicious and flavorful journey through Bricolage’s Vietnamese cuisine created by chef Emiliano and bar manager Tyler who served special dishes and cocktails that incorporated Amber Beverage Groups spirits, including Colón Salvadoreño Coffee Infused Rum, KAH Blanco Tequila, Riga Black Balsam, and Rooster Rojo Smoked Pineapple Anejo Tequila.

Amber Beverage Group’s representative Katy Wallace provided an intimate and guided educational tasting of her group’s spirits portfolio. The cocktails were outstanding and complemented the entrées and desserts wonderfully. The team took care to respect the history of the drinks, the space, and every dish while spinning fresh and unique concepts.

Contemporary Vietnamese French gastropub located in the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn, Bricolage, offers an interesting space made of hand-built recycled vintage material like phones, televisions sets and bicycles. The interior art was designed by internationally known artist Miro Gal and pays tribute to influential artists from the past 50-years. The giant outdoor space paired with its unique décor makes Bricolage an amazing hidden gem.

In French bricolage means an assembly of objects that were once valued, used, and then discarded. The bricoleur is an artist who collects and repurposes old objects to restore their cultural value.

The post The Chilled 100 Bartenders Dinner in Brooklyn hosted by Amber Beverage Group appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

As one of the most successful impressionists in American history, the 83-year-old comedy icon Rich Little has enjoyed a blockbuster career making generations of fans laugh out loud thanks to his spot-on impersonations and witty lines.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Little first broke out into the mainstream culture with a string of frequent television appearances after his American television debut on The Judy Garland Show, fast becoming a favorite on the popular The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, where he’d skewer the biggest stars of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

His impressions of famous people from all walks of life range the gamut, perhaps most famously his unique take on American Presidents (perhaps his most famous being that of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan), in addition President Trump right up to his current imitation of President Joe Biden. Little’s electric roster of voices also include singers (Dean Martin), actors (Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne) and other personalities (Dr. Phil).

It’s a storied career that also includes a prestigious gig hosting the White House Correspdonent’s Dinner where he joked alongside then-President George W. Bush, nine comedy albums and three HBO comedy specials. It’s a laugh-filled life he recounted in the 2017 memoir Little by Little: People I Have Known and Been.

In recent years, Little has a popular residency in Sin City at the Tropicana Las Vegas’s in-house comedy club The Laugh Factory where he currently performs dozens of impressions and gags, in addition to displaying his personal charcoal drawings of his most notable subjects, multiple nights a week.

Tell us about what you’re working on.

I’m currently performing at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.

What can you tell us about your current show?

It’s a trip down memory lane, with impersonations of a lot of the people I grew up with.

What kind of people do you impersonate?

Mostly older impressions, but young people come too (and enjoy the show). I had a guy say to me that he loved my show and thought my best impression was the drunk. I said, “The drunk?” And he meant Dean Martin, but he didn’t know who he was.

What’s your favorite drink?

I don’t really drink, but I’ll have a glass of wine occasionally.

White or Red?

Red.

Do you have a preferred kind?

I like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Is there any beverage you always have to have stocked at your house?

I always have iced tea in my home. I drink a lot of it.

Have you ever been a bartender or waiter?

No, I haven’t.

What has it been like performing for audiences in bars and clubs over the course of your career?

Sometimes you get people who drink too much, and they can interrupt the show.

How do you handle that kind of situation?

You have to use stock lines on them. Like, “I’m gonna do Lassie, and you’re gonna be the tree.” Or “Hey, there’s a bus outside leaving in five minutes. Be under it.” You try to cover it by kidding with them!

The post Chillin’ With Rich Little appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Celebrate International Pineapple Day on Monday, June 27th with this tropical cocktail!

Lahaina, Hawaii’s Pacific’o on the Beach Bar Manager, Mari Howe created a gorgeous Maui-inspired recipe to try at home using a house-made Pineapple Demerara Syrup.

Mari Howe’s Maui Gold Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Averna Amaro
• 2 bar spoons Maui Gold Pineapple Demerara Syrup*
• 2 dashes Angostura and Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Preparation: Combine all ingredients and stir in a mixing glass. Strain over a large ice cube. Garnish with an expressed lemon peel and dehydrated pineapple.

*Maui Gold Pineapple Demerara Syrup:

Juice and strain a fresh pineapple. Combine equal parts of pineapple juice to raw Demerara sugar. Dissolve over heat.

The post Maui Gold Fashioned appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Santa Teresa 1796 Venezuelan Single-Estate Solera Rum is made in the mountainous Aragua Valley, home to the perfect environmental conditions for aging rum.

As the world continues to grab hold of all things premium, aging methods have become a hot topic in rum. But what exactly does aging rum with the Solera Method mean? We asked Brand Ambassador, Marlo Gamora of Santa Teresa 1796 Rum about the solera aging system and the flavors this technique imparts to the rum-making Santa Teresa as a perfect base in typically whiskey-forward cocktails.

Tell about the Solera System used in aging Santa Teresa Rum and the flavors this method imparts on the rum.

Santa Teresa uses a traditional Spanish-style Solera System. Solera is a process for aging liquids such as wine, beer, vinegar, brandy, and rum by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. The purpose of this labor-intensive process is the maintenance of a reliable style, consistency, and quality of the Santa Teresa 1796.  The Solera will allow for that great variety of flavors and aromas to be blended into a liquid that will consistently taste essentially the same. This Solera process is called “Crianza de Barriles,” which is translated to, “upbringing a child (the barrels).” The method gives Santa Teresa 1796 great viscosity and consistency. It also softens the rum and gives it a distinct aged aroma that is shared amongst the older blends. Santa Teresa 1796 is unexpectedly dry. With all the wood contact and aging, Santa Teresa 1796 has a deep rich flavor of cinnamon, dried apple, caramel, nutmeg, and slight hints of cardamom. The blending and Solera process really softens the spirit and the palette.

Talk to us about using ST1796 in Classic Cocktails. How does it hold up in typically whiskey-based cocktails?

I always encourage people to try it neat or on the rocks for the first time, to be able to truly taste the rum’s full flavor notes. However, I like to get creative with it. Santa Teresa 1796 offers an ideal base to create a variety of classic cocktails, especially whiskey-based cocktails. Santa Teresa 1796 is dry and complex. It shares the same flavor profiles as a bourbon and rye whiskey that has been aged 10-years and up. Santa Teresa 1796 works wonderfully in an Old Fashioned, Negroni, Boulevardier, and a Manhattan. Santa Teresa’s dry finish really compliments any classic cocktail as a substitute for whiskey.

What should bartenders know about mixing with ST1796?

Santa Teresa 1796 is extremely versatile. It can be bright and refreshing on one end and rich and complex on the other end. Santa Teresa 1796 mixes very well, it can take any citrus, bitter, warm, cold, and infusion applications. Usually, you can find me enjoying Santa Teresa 1796 in a Queenspark Swizzle, Daiquiri, Rum Julep or with tonic during the spring and summer months. I enjoy substituting Santa Teresa 1796 with any whiskey-based cocktail. For example, Santa Teresa in a Hot Toddy, Irish Coffee, or Espresso Martini adds an exciting flavor and depth to the cocktails that’s surprising and comforting at the same time. Don’t be afraid to experiment with Santa Teresa 1796, you will find it surprisingly delightful every time.

The Venezuelan

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Santa Teresa 1796 rum
• 3/4 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. demerara syrup
• 1 dropper vanilla extract (about 20 drops)
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 1/2 oz. sparkling wine

Preparation: Shake all ingredients with ice except sparkling wine. Double strain into a glass, top with sparkline wine in a coupe. Garnish with an orange peel.

The post Brand Ambassador Marlo Gamora Talks Cocktails with Solera-Aged Santa Teresa Rum appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Through Jamming Sessions, Casa Dragones inspires the confluence of ideas in the bar world, continuing to unite an international community of bartenders while fostering connections over a mutual love for tequila and Mexico.

During Barra Mexico’s Cocktail Week, eight Jamming Session finalists competed for the 2022 title while surrounded by stunning panoramic views of the city on Rosewood San Miguel’s rooftop before a live audience and a panel of international acclaimed judges including BEKAB founder Fabiola Padilla, Ritual H bar director José Luis León and Casa Mata beverage director Yana Volfson as well as co-founder and CEO of Tequila Casa Dragones, Bertha González Nieves, who presided over the festivities as host.

London-based Daniel Kaizen, the assistant bar manager of 34 Mayfair in the United Kingdom, was ultimately crowned the winner of the 2022 Casa Dragones Jamming Sessions after crafting his original Dragon Punch cocktail. The winning recipe was a variation on a refreshing punch with tropical flavors such as pineapple and kiwi and based on his selected theme of “Innovation” for the final round.

Besides the trophy, the prize included an invitation for a Casa Dragones Bartender Residency in San Miguel, a set of Casa Dragones’ family of ultra-premium expressions including a personalized Casa Dragones Joven to enjoy with family and friends at home as well as a thousand-dollar grant in support of professional endeavors.

The 2022 edition of Casa Dragones Jamming Sessions received over 400 original cocktail video submissions from mixologists throughout Mexico, the United States, and Europe with entries inspired by the theme of “For the Love of San Miguel.” The finalists in San Miguel first faced an elimination round, followed by a final round featuring the top three bartenders with the highest scores. For the final round, the three finalists presented cocktails based on principles that guide Casa Dragones’ mission as a small-batch producer including “innovation,” “Mexican craftsmanship,” and “modern, sustainable production.” In addition to creating drinks for the judges, the contestants were required to prepare their cocktails in batch form so the viewing audience could vote on the fan favorite.

Casa Dragones Jamming Sessions, 2022 — Winning Cocktail

Dragon Punch

Created by bartender Daniel Kaizen

Inspiration: Offering a punch that incorporates all the flavors of Casa Dragones while being able to cater all different ranges of people who want to enjoy tequila, from connoisseurs to beginners.

Ingredients:

• Casa Dragones Blanco Rosemary syrup
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Lemon and Lime juice
• Kiwi, pineapple and lime pieces
• Rosemary

ABOUT JAMMING SESSIONS & THE BARTENDER EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Jamming Sessions originally debuted in 2015 in San Miguel de Allende as an event that paired chefs and bartenders together in order to “jam” and create collaborative cocktails. Transformed to focus primarily on the bar community, Jamming Sessions is the flagship cocktail competition of Casa Dragones’ Bartender Exchange Program, an initiative designed to foster an international community of industry professionals, bartenders and mixologists that share a passion for Mexico and tequila. Launched in 2020, the Bartender Exchange Program celebrates the interchange of knowledge, experience and expertise between bartenders from Mexico, the United States and the rest of the world.

The post Check Out Who Won Casa Dragones Jamming Sessions 2022 appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News