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Miami Challengers

New York's Challenge was hosted by Brooklyn's Clover Club
Congratulations to Adam DelGiudice, Miami's Finalist! Congratulations to Adam DelGiudice, Miami's Finalist!

Adam DelGiudice from The Florida Room took 1st place with his cocktail "The Sweet Sweet Sensi" inspired by Come Around by Collie Buddz. Adam will be moving on to the finals in New York on August 31!


Runners Up
Congratulations to Gabriel Orta for coming in second!

Gabriel Orta from The Living Room @ The W Hotel with his cocktail "Jamaican Me Drunk!" inspired by the song Jammin' by Bob Marley came in second.

Congratulations to Elad Zvi for coming in third!

Elad Zvi from The Living Room @ The W Hotel came in 3rd with his cocktail "Cherry Blossom" inspired by the song Cherry Blossom Girl by Air.

Semi-Finalist Recipes

The Sweet Sweet Sensi

Adam DelGiudice
Works at: The Florida Room

Song: Come Around by Collie Buddz

Recipe:
1.5 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve
muddle 2-3 pineapple chunks with smoked sage (sage herd that has been torched briefly)

combine: 1.5 oz Appleton Estate Reserve .
5 oz demerrara sugar syrup .
5 oz yellow chartruese
.75 oz fresh lime juice
shake and strain into an old fashioned glass, and dust with a touch of cayenne pepper
garnish with a pineapple spear and sage sprig

jamaican me drunk!!!!

gabriel orta
Works at: The Living Room @ The W Hotel

Song: Jamming by Bob marley

Recipe:
2 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve
2 bar spoon home made ginger jam
1/2 bar spoon home made all spice jam
3/4 oz lime juice 3
/4 oz soursop puree
3 dashes west india orange bitters
top with Red stripe garnish: dehydrated lime and orange wheels with sweet curry

cherry blossom

elad zvi
Works at: The Living Room @ The W Hotel

Song: cherry blossom girl by air

Recipe:
2 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve
4 house-mede cherry syrup
1/2 oz of balsamic reduction
1 oz of Carpano Antica Formula
3/4 of fresh lemon juice
2 drop of mole bitters

Procedure: Add all ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into a coupe Glass Glassware coupe Glass Garnish blossom flower

Audubon Park Swizzle

danny valdez
Works at: Cure (New Orleans, LA)

Song: They All Ask'd for You by The Meters

Recipe:
1.5 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve
.5 oz Del Maguey Chichicapa mezcal
1 oz demerara simple syrup
.75 oz lime juice
4 dashes of the Bitter Truth Creole bitters
4-6 large mint leaves

Method: Place mint, demerara, rum, lime juice, in tin or mixing glass, lightly muddle and mix ingredients. Add all ingredients into highball/collins glass. Top until 3/4 full with crushed ice/cracked ice. Add bitters and swizzle with swizzle stick. Top with more crushed/cracked ice. Float Mezcal on top.

Tangerine Smile

Nelson Crutchfield
Works at: The Flagship Restaurant in Portsmouth, VA

Song: Lucy in the Sky by The Beatles

Recipe:
2 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve
.25oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
1 Fresh tangerine cut into wedges
2 slices of fresh jalapeno
1 dash of runny honey (equal parts water and honey)
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Combine all ingredients into a boston shaker and muddle real well. Add ice and shake to combine. Double strain into a ice filled rocks glass and garnish with an extra tangerine wedge and an extra slice of jalapeno

Meet the Judges

Meet the Judges
Willy Shine, Laura Cullen, John Lermayer