USBG Past Events
2007

November 2007

The 33rd Annual IBA World Cocktail Competition
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
November 21st - 27th 2007
Congratulations Debbi, ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!!

Our US representative in the World Cocktail Competition, Debbi Peek, did such a fantastic job and made the US proud! She traveled over the Thanksgiving Holiday from Chicago to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to be our Classic Competitor.

There were several people present from our Southern CA Chapter to cheer her on and she reportedly nailed her technical performance! With her cocktail Now and Zen and technical score putting her at 32nd place out of 52 we are very pleased!

"It was truly an honor to represent the USBG in Taiwan. I met some amazing bartenders from over 50 different countries and made some amazing new friends. I had the time of my life!!!!" Debbi Peek.

Thank you Debbi for representing us all and for taking on the WORLD in your RED JACKET to make us proud!

Debbie Peek

Now & Zen

  • 3.5 cl Skyy Citrus Vodka
  • .5 cl Zen Green Tea Liqueur
  • 1.5 cl Fresh lemon juice
  • .5 cl Monin Lemongrass syrup
  • 1 cl Cherry Juice
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist wrapped around a lemongrass stalk.

Debbie Peek
From the IBA website…..

The IBA Congress held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan from November 22 to 27 2007 was a resounding success. Highlights of the competition are the two competitions that were conducted at the Kaohsiung Culture Centre. The Champion for the World Cocktail Competition is Ms Krista Meri from Estonia with the following concoction…

Golden Autumn

  • 2 cl Nemiroff Original
  • 2 cl Extra Dry Martini
  • 1 barspoon Di Saronno
  • 1 cl Monin Green Apple
  • 2 barspoons Monin Lime Syrup
Shaken and strained in to a cocktail glass.
Garnished with apple, blueberry and cinnamon.

For more information and pictures please visit www.iba-world.com

October 2007

USBG, Santé Magazine & Absolut Spirits Company
IRON BARTENDER Competition
Chicago IL, October 30th

What a fantastic event! Absolut Spirits Company is on to something here!

Competitors from all over the Chicago area submitted recipes to be considered in a mail in qualifying round. A team of judges chose 12 finalists to compete live at Le Passage in downtown Chicago in front of their peers and a room full of EXPERTS in their field. The tension was high as the 12 Finalist had to throw their qualifying recipes out the window and start from scratch at the event, with only 15 minutes to concoct new recipes based only on the ingredients available to them. With Dale De Groff and Tony Abou-Ganim on the mic the competitors and guests were educated, entertained and flat out enamored.

Quite a scene with some of the most influential Spirits Professionals all in one room! Judges and MC's, from left to right: Rob Costantino (Santé Magazine), Simon Ford (Plymouth Gin Ambassador), Tony Abou-Ganim (The Modern Mixologist), Bridget Albert (Southern Wine and Spirits IL Mixologist and Spirits Educator), Dale De Groff (King Cocktail), Francesco Lafranconi (Southern Wine and Spirits of America Director of Mixology & Spirits Educator)
The 12 Finalists
Enrique Cobos, Martini Park
Wilber Gomez, Bice Bistro
Angie Jackson, Ultimate Elixirs
Charles Joly, Three Headed Productions
John Kinder, MK the Restaurant
Timothy Lacey, Spring Restaurant Group
James Macknyk, Otom Restaurant
Anthony Maffei, Jilly's Naperville
Debbi Peek, The Drawing Room at Le Passage
Radostin Raykov, Doubletree Oak Brook
Adam Seger, Nacional 27
Peter Vestinos, Sepia Restaurant
There were 3 rounds of 4 competitors and a winner selected from each round to proceed to the Final Round consisting of 3 of Chicago's Finest Bartenders! The crowd rallied around the competitors as they created the final 3 drinks for the judges.
The Final 3
Charles Joly
John Kinder
Peter Vestinos
WINNER
Peter Vestinos
Sepia Restaurant, Bartender
Peter mixed Plymouth Gin and Campari as his base, the puree of fresh berries blended seamlessly with the complexity of the Gin and bitterness of the Campari. Beautiful color and a clean fresh flavor profile made this drink the winner. Congratulations Peter!
Winning Recipe:
The Ramble on Cocktail
  • 2 oz Plymouth Gin
  • 1/2 oz Campari
  • 1 oz puree of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries sweetened with 1/2 oz agave nectar
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Shake and strain into rocks glass.
Garnish with floating, mixed fresh berries.
11th Annual Pan American Cocktail Competition Barquisimeto, Venezuela August 21—27th, 2007
RESULTS!
Las Vegas, Beyond Smooth Level Vodka Cocktail Competition RESULTS!

(click images for more details...)