When master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi asked me, as a favor to him, to judge a cocktail competition, I groaned. But at least it bailed me out of the wet-T-shirt tournament I was originally booked for last Sunday evening.
I headed Downtown to Sidebar, fantasizing about a conveyor belt of exotic martinis and flaming daiquiris and being surrounded by a jocular crew of barflies bellowing pub songs during the final round. Turns out, I had confused cocktail competition with drinking competition—this contest couldn’t have been more serious. The Nevada chapter of the United States Bartender Guild was holding its annual booze bout to decide who goes to the national mixology finals May 5 in Chicago.
“Coming from Europe, I am used to a bartender being an esteemed position,” Lafranconi said. “It is a career, not just a transitional job like some people think.”
I was one of four on the panel—Absolut brand ambassador Bobby Gleason; beverage specialist Armando Rosario, from the Bartender’s Guild; and the Weekly’s own Xania Woodman all joined me at a secluded table in the conjoining restaurant, Triple George (we were not allowed to see the competitors, or anyone else—just the pretty lady bringing us the drinks).
The criteria were simple: We graded on appearance, aroma and, of course, taste. I quickly realized it was unprofessional to down the entire drink—two sips seemd to be the norm.
The winner? Spike Tea, by creator Gaston Martinez. “It tastes like my hand lotion smells,” Woodman said. “That one lotion you really wish you could eat.” In Chicago Martinez will vie to represent the U.S. in the world finals in Taiwan. But as my pee-wee baseball coach used to say, everyone’s a winner: The cocktails flowed all evening, and this judge started to lose some serious judgment.