Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/948966
96 / the tasting panel / march 2018 REPORT whiskey SCREWDRIVER BAR, Seattle, WA Housed in the basement of a historical building in the cos- mopolitan Belltown neighborhood, Screwdiver Bar is a local favorite with a rock 'n' roll vibe. Partners Dave Flatman, Bryan Krieger, and Chris Jones opened the bar in late 2016, and the trio of longtime Seattle bartenders approached the Jack Daniel's cocktail challenge the same way they've gone about accomplishing nearly everything else at the bar: as a team. "We talked about how different ingredients could help accentuate the music history here, and Jack ties nicely into that," Flatman explains. "We wanted something nice and balanced, a little esoteric, and delicious." Flatman says conceptualizing their Jack Daniel's Rye–based cocktail, dubbed the Do Right Woman, required some "reverse engineering," as one person typically comes up with a cocktail before opening up the floor for finetuning. "It was interesting to go about cocktail development from a different approach than you would normally take," he adds. "It was a very fluid process and a really fun experience." PHOTO: JOANN ARRUDA W hile a bartender's job is inherently social, the act of creating a new cocktail or bar menu can feel solitary by comparison. In an effort to combat that sense of seclusion, Jack Daniel's U.S. Brand Ambassador Eric "E.T." Tecosky challenged co-workers at three establishments to collabora- tively craft a cocktail without any requirements or constraints. "Typically, you present finished or almost finished cocktails to co-workers or trusted regulars for feedback, and I wondered if instant feedback from a collaborative effort could help or hurt the process. But if it doesn't help or wasn't fun . . . then this whole thing was not my idea!" Tecosky adds with a laugh. Read on for the stories and recipes behind the participating bartenders' creations. PHOTO: JOANN ARRUDA Dave Flatman (left) and Chris Jones (right) watch as Bryan Krieger (center) measures out a walnut liqueur for their collaborative cocktail, the Do Right Woman, at Screwdriver Bar in Seattle, WA. Do Right Woman Created by Bryan Krieger, Chris Jones, and Dave Flatman at Screwdriver Bar ◗ ¾ oz. Jack Daniel's Rye ◗ ¾ oz. VS Cognac ◗ ½ oz. Nocino liqueur ◗ ½ oz. lemon juice ◗ ½ oz. honey syrup ◗ 2 dashes Regan's Orange Bitters Shake all ingredients and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist and brandied cherry. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Jack Daniel's U.S. Brand Ambassador Eric "E.T." Tecosky Challenges Bartenders to Collaborate with Cocktail Creation by Mara Marski