Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/19027
Los Angeles Judges’ Panel (left to right): Eric Tecosky (Jones Hollywood), Meridith May (Publisher, THE TASTING PANEL Magazine), Dan Dunn (freelance spirits writer), Anthony Dias Blue Editor-in-Chief, (THE TASTING PANEL Magazine), Richard Carleton Hacker (freelance spirits writer), Aidan Demarest (Tello Demarest Liquid Assets). Los Angeles contestants (left to right): Judges’ Choice winner Dan Long, Rich Williams, Danny Cymbal (all from First & Hope, Los Angeles), Rosie Bolanos (Whale’s Tail, Ventura); Justin Harmon (Level 4, Paso Robles), Kywan Lee (Taps Fish House/The Catch, Anaheim), Paul Costa (Lucky Strikes Lanes at L.A. Live, Los Angeles), Fan Favorite Quenten Rouse (Downtown Brewing Co., Paso Robles). ORANGE COUNTY photos by John Merlino 1 part HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur 1 part Johnnie Walker Black 1 part Cherry Herring Shake and pour into a shot glass. Garnish with a blood-orange wheel. Jaren Singh from St. Regis Stonehill Tavern in Monarch Beach. Chris Johnson of Heat Ultra Lounge in Anaheim. Held at Mesa in Costa Mesa, CA, the Orange County regional competition featured 12 bartenders who gave it their all to impress our esteemed panel of judges. Judges’ Choice: Jaren Singh Blood for HARLEM Fan Favorite: Chris Johnson HARLEM Sweet Heart 1 oz. HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur ½ oz. Chambord ½ oz. Pama pomegranate liqueur Splash of lemonade Shake with ice and serve chilled. Quenten Rouse of Downtown Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, CA. Nolet Spirits Executive Vice President, 11th generation Carl Nolet Jr. (far right) poses with the Orange County Judges’ Panel (left to right): Richard Carleton Hacker (freelance spir- its writer), Eric Tecosky (Jones Hollywood), Aidan Demarest (Tello Demarest Liquid Assets), Meridith May and Anthony Dias Blue (THE TASTING PANEL Magazine). Orange County contestants, bottom row (left to right): Tii Anderson (Brio Tuscany Grille, Dana Point), Fan Favorite Chris Johnson (Heat Ultra Lounge, Anaheim), Jonpaul Ugay (Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar, San Juan Capistrano), and Judges’ Choice winner Jaren Singh (St. Regis Stonehill Tavern, Monarch Beach). Top row (left to right): Joel Mijares (The Auld Dubliner, Tustin), Richard Ables (Tilted Kilt, Palm Desert), Carl Nolet Jr. from Nolet Spirits; Steven Garcia (Mesa, Costa Mesa), Juan Alvarez (King Neptune’s, Sunset Beach), Steven Terrebone (Avia Hotel, Long Beach), Kristen Garber (OC Tavern, San Clemente), and Ben Gonzales (Slidebar, Fullerton). 60 / the tasting panel / november 2010