Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/818616
96 / the tasting panel / may 2017 Ole Smoky? O ver the past few months, bartenders in five markets—Knoxville, TN; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Cincinnati, OH; and Jacksonville, FL—went head-to-head in regional competitions in order to earn a ticket to Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans in July, where they will face off to see who will be crowned this year's Master of Moonshine. Each of these winning contes- tants utilized Ole Smoky Moonshine's Blackberry and White Lightnin' expres- sions, along with no more than five other ingredients (excluding garnishes), to create a libation that won over both the judges and the crowd vote in order to move onto the next round. We'll see you in the Big Easy! KNOXVILLE, TN Vance McCarty Bar Manager, Maple Hall Blackberry "Cobbler" and Cream ◗ ¾ oz. Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine ◗ ¾ oz. Ole Smoky White Lightnin' Moonshine ◗ 3 blackberries ◗ ¼ oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice ◗ 1 oz. vanilla simple syrup ◗ 1 oz. heavy cream ◗ Pinch cinnamon Serve in a sundae dish and garnish with biscotti and blackberry. What's the inspiration for your cocktail? "The blackberry cobbler my grandmother made me while I was growing up." CATEGORY REPORT BARTENDERS BATTLE IT OUT FOR A SPOT AT OLE SMOKY MOONSHINE'S TASTING ROOM AT TALES OF THE COCKTAIL Who's on Top of Headed to Tales of the Cocktail and want to try out these creations? Visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine tasting room: Hotel Monteleone Royal C&D Wednesday, July 19 3–5 p.m. PHOTO: RACHEL WEBB PHOTO: RACHEL WEBB