Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/723381
After months of tough qualifying competitions, four bartend- ers from across the U.S. descended onto the Crescent City to compete for their chance to claim the second Master of Moonshine title during this year's Tales of the Cocktail. With Ole Smoky Moonshine's Apple Pie as the star ingredient, each bartender served up sample sizes of their regional competition-winning cocktails in the Ole Smoky Tasting Room, where guests had a chance to vote for their favorite. With a $5,000 prize on the line, each bartender pulled out all the stops, from shaking hands and smiling as they explained their cocktail to an eager crowd, to lighting cinnamon on fire with signature showmanship, but at the end of the day, only one mixologist could be crowned the winner. Snagging the title this year was Cincinnati's Bill Whitlow, whose Moonshine through the Porthole cock- tail offered a complex, nuanced take on Ole Smoky Apple Pie. "I really like this spirit because it is a flavored product that actually has a backbone," explained Whitlow. "A lot of flavored products work as secondary ingredients, but Ole Smoky Apple Pie has the structure to build a cocktail around." In addition to Ole Smoky's stable of flavored spirits, high-proof expressions such as Blue Flame, the 2015 Ole Smoky Masters of Moonshine base ingredient, offer mixologists plenty to work with on the palate and in the glass, and as the brand becomes an increasingly popular on-premise call, the 2017 Masters of Moonshine competition is sure to heat things up even more. Want to make your way to Tales next year to fight for your chance at the title? Stay tuned to The Tasting Panel in coming months for info on regional competitions coming your way, and get ready to ride the moonshine train all the way to New Orleans in 2017! The scent of cinnamon filled the air as guests wandered through the room, tasting cocktails presented by the four finalists. While seasoned cocktailians nodded their heads in appreciation of the four well-crafted cocktails in front of them, novice bartenders and those looking to take the plunge into the realm of craft mixology wondered aloud: "What are you doing? Why are you doing that? How does that work?" With the stable of expert bartenders leading the way, the Ole Smoky Tasting Room was heating things up. september 2016 / the tasting panel / 63 In the Tasting Room with the Masters Masters of Moonshine champion Bill Whitlow wowed audiences by lighting cinnamon on fire as he topped his winning cocktail, Moonshine through the Porthole. After winning the Tennessee semi-final, Dana Dixon was proud to represent her home state with Ole Smoky Master Distiller Justin King. "I'm a proud born and raised Tennessee girl, so knowing that all the Ole Smoky flavors burst straight out of a still right here in the good ole Tennessee holler makes it natural for me to continuously put a lil' South in the mouth of all my customers and guests by using Ole Smoky Moonshine!" As he poured his Pie in the Sky cocktail for guests, contestant Bohdan Darway explained that it was an honor to be work- ing the Ole Smoky Tasting Room. "It's very satisfying and an honor to come full circle by pouring a bever- age for a guest who also happens to be the distiller of the base spirit!"