Bartender Ray Perryman of Three Spirits Tavern in Bellevue took home some hardware from the inaugural Northern Kentucky Cocktail Classic.
His cocktail, the ‘Harvest Season,’ featured Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon, pear and apple juice, a touch of lemon juice, ginger liqueurs, house-made spiced simple syrup, sweet ginger bitters and a smoked rosemary garnish.
Perryman received a cash prize of $500 and a special bourbon barrel trophy and a mixology set from Barfly presented to him at a special party at Three Spirits to signify the achievement.
The Northern Kentucky Cocktail Classic was created to determine the best bartender along The B-Line – a collection of five distilleries, eight bourbon bars and six bourbon-centric restaurants located in Northern Kentucky. The event was hosted on Saturday, Oct. 9 at Three Spirits Tavern. Finalists were brought together after a month-long competition during National Bourbon Heritage Month in September.
Bartenders from around the area were invited to participate in the competition if their cocktails were sold at their respective establishments. Attendees voted for the top four bartenders’ concoctions, which had to feature TAO Bitters from a small, Cincinnati-based business and Kentucky bourbon, to advance to the event’s finals.
Chase Hetzel, head bartender at Wiseguy Lounge, placed second and received $300. Hetzel made his ‘Satsuma’s Revenge’ signature cocktail with Suntory Taki Whiskey, blood orange simple syrup, black sesame-infused New Riff Rye Whiskey and TAO bitters.
Megan Duncan, bartender at Smoke Justis placed third and received $200 for her signature ‘Why So Serious’ cocktail. Duncan created the cocktail with Boone County Distilling Co.’s small batch, lemon juice, blueberry simple syrup, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, an egg white and TAO bitters.
Videos of each contestant making their cocktails can be found at meetnky.com. For more information on The B-Line® and the various events and specials for National Bourbon Heritage Month, visit thebline.com.
Three Spirits Tavern is located at 209 Fairfield Ave. in Bellevue. Wiseguy Lounge is located at 603 Main St. in Covington. Smoke Justis is located at 302 Court St. in Covington.