Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/68310
Every night at the Andaz Fifth Avenue Hotel, Mandarine Napoléon transformed its suite into a pop-up bar, featuring some of the country's hottest bartenders including the Bon Vivants (San Francisco), SoHo House (Los Angeles, Miami, New York) and Bar Lab's pop-up, The Broken Shaker (Miami). Here, the Bon Vivants are behind the stick: Josh Harris, Scott Baird, Alex Straus. In a series called "Three Nights Representing the Past, Present and Future of Cocktails," William Grant and Sons Portfolio Ambassador Charlotte Voisey created unique cocktails on the theme. Here, she uses Hendrick's Gin, Aperol and Lillet Rose to make a modern Boulevardier. Diageo sponsored a happy hour to celebrate the debut of Diageo World Class, a global search to fi nd the world's top bartending talent. Tanqueray Gin Global Ambassador Angus Winchester introduced Erik Lorincz, winner of the Diageo World Class 2010, and Peter Dorelli (pictured),Bar Manager of The Savoy in London, who were there to encourage American bartenders to compete. Ten thousand contenders from around the world are expected to compete in the fi nals to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this July, where Dorelli will judge, along with Salvatore Calabrese and Dale DeGroff. Competitions were fi erce at MCC, and the Don Q Mix it Up challenge was no different: After a series of nationwide preliminaries, Dev Johnson from New York's Employees Only took home the grand prize in the fi nale, with his cocktail, The Jones Act. Johnson and the four other fi nalists won a trip to Puerto Rico to tour Destileria Serrallés, where Don Q is distilled. Dylan Regan, Cocktail Quester Our roving mixologist, Dylan Regan, set off from Boulder with Manhattan in his sights, enjoying cocktails across the country along the way (see pages 48–49 for more). Visit our website for more on Dylan's cross-country cocktailing, as well as some great photos from MCC at www.tastingpanelmag.com. Dylan Regan with William Grant & Sons Brand Ambassador Jackie Patterson. Campari took advantage of the industry's gathering to celebrate the birthday of legendary Count Camillo Negroni, credited with creating the eponymous cocktail. The evening also featured a Best Aperitvo competition, with the winning title going to Morgan Schick of NOPA in San Francisco (pictured, left), and a special moment for Southern Wine and Spirits' Director of Mixology Francesco Lafranconi, who was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the USBG. june 2012 / the tasting panel / 115 PHOTO: COURTESY OF MANDARINE NAPOLÉON PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMPARI PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMPARI PHOTO: COURTESY OF DON Q. PHOTO: SHAUNA L. DER CREDIT: PHOTO: DYLAN REGAN PHOTO: SHAUNA L. DER