Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/566135
134 / the tasting panel / september 2015 Nick Maziejka's Red, White and Fun cocktail, made with Bird Dog Whiskey, took first place and a $1,000 cash prize, courtesy of THE TASTING PANEL. Brandon Coles's Deep Eddy Vodka–based Red, White and Blueberry Lemonade scored $500 as a second place finisher; Ginny Lawson's Hero's Homecoming, featuring Semper Fi Corn Whiskey, snagged $250 in third place. Following the competition, audience members sampled craft cocktails under the grand Rotunda of the National Archives and enjoyed after-hours access to the Spirited Republic exhibition. One specialty cocktail not in competition, Washington's Last Word, featured Pig's Nose Scotch Whisky, green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur and lemon juice, shaken and served in a rocks glass over ice. Frederick Wildman representative and Bar Manager at D.C.'s Farmers Fishers Bakers, Torrence Swain, designed the cocktail and Adam Wood poured. At the end of the evening, everyone agreed that all of the contestants were winners. After all, they made his- tory in the most historical location in America's Capital. Emcee/Chief Spirits Advisor for the National Archives Derek Brown engaged the audience, answering questions and telling interesting facts. Emcee Allen Katz, Director of Mixology and Spirits Education for Southern Wine & Spirits of New York, played emcee. Bourbon in the U.S.A. In the first heat, Nick Maziejka, used Bird Dog Whiskey in his Red, White and Fun cocktail, which, in his own words is "a melting pot of tongue fun." Maziejka layered Bird Dog Peach Bourbon over gin, coconut cream and other tiki-inspired ingredients; the crowning touch was a red raspberry, dipped in white chocolate and coated with Pop Rocks. A true American spirit, Bird Dog's trio of corn, malted barley and rye is distilled into a uniquely mild bourbon. Aged in traditional charred white oak bourbon barrels and bottled at 80 proof, Bird Dog offers a variety of flavored whiskeys, including Peach, Hot Cinnamon, Maple, Apple, Chocolate and the original Blackberry. With so much to play with, Maziejka called the competi- tion, "an outlet to do something fun and show off the versatility of Bird Dog." Spirited Republic cocktail competition winner Nick Maziejka. Red, White and Fun ◗ ¼ oz. Bird Dog Peach Bourbon ◗ 1 oz. Bird Dog Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey ◗ ½ oz. Fernet-Vallet bitters ◗ ½ oz. coconut cream syrup ◗ ½ oz. Darnley's View Gin ◗ 2 oz. blueberries, slightly muddled Combine the two bourbons and bitters in shaker with ice and mix thoroughly, set aside. Combine gin and coconut cream syrup in shaker with ice and mix thoroughly, set aside. In a rocks glass, build from the bottom, adding muddled blueberries on the bottom as the blue layer, then fill glass with cubed ice. For the white layer, carefully strain the gin/ coconut mixture layer; for the red layer, strain the bourbon mixture on top. Garnish with red raspberry dipped in white chocolate and coated with Pop Rocks. EXHIBITIONS