It was sweaty. It was intense. Competition was fierce.
But the drinks were free.
The Denver finals of the 42Below Cocktail World Cup wrapped up in grand style Tuesday night at Space Gallery on Santa Fe. Ten of Denver’s best bartenders competed, whipping up original recipes with vodka supplied by 42Below, the contest’s sponsor.
Six lucky judges sat back and watched the show, carefully critiquing presentation and taste. They were lucky because, besides sipping fresh, gourmet cocktails, the judges got to sit down — and they probably needed the chairs more than the swirling crowd did.
After about three hours of heated competition and increasing rowdiness, Denver’s top mixologist was crowned: Jared Boller of Cherry Creek’s Ocean (201 Columbine St.; 303-377-5350).
His winning drink, the “Bollerberrytini,” is a complex concoction, with lots of fresh- squeezed juices — no shortcuts here. Boller played up the “aromatic” qualities of the beverage, cool and calm under the hot lights.
Now that he’s prevailed, the lucky so-and- so travels to New Zealand, home of 42Below vodka, in September. He’ll take on bartenders from around the world as part of Team USA in the Cocktail World Cup.
Boller’s probably already packing his martini shaker, but the other bartenders will be sticking around. Here are a few who fared well and whose cocktails should inspire plenty of guests at their home bars: Visit and behold the mixing magic.
Khali de Prado of The Purple Martini shook up his “Cucumber Chill” while joking easily with the judges like a true pro. He graciously acknowledged the skills of his competitors, saying, “Everybody’s a winner here tonight.” De Prado almost made it to New Zealand, too: He came in third.
Lina Umansky, from Theorie, was all smiles as she expertly mixed up “Grandma’s Honey” using 42Below’s honey-flavored vodka. If you like the Boston Red Sox, stop by and commiserate. She proudly supported her favorite team during the contest, even in the face of judge Greg Bloom, a Yankees fan.
It took only a minute for Osteria Marco’s Adam Hodak to shake up his drink, the “Dolce Speziata.” The quick mix of spicy and sweet flavors was a breezy change from the intricate, careful preparation of many other bartenders. Hodak took second place.
It’s easy to picture Jung Cho’s submission, the “Emerald City Martini,” sitting on his bar at nine75. The frosty, peach-colored concoction has a pool of green liquid — was it Midori? — floating at the bottom of every glass. It would look perfect with nine75’s clean lines and chic decor.
Give these fine folks a try next time you’re in the mood for a perfectly shaken, or stirred, cocktail. And stop by Boller’s bar at Ocean soon to wish him luck.
Beer drinkers, rejoice.
Boulder’s Avery Brewing Co. (5763 Arapahoe Ave.) celebrates its 15th anniversary on Sunday with a beer-soaked party and a “vertical tasting.”
The brewery behind Ellie’s Brown Ale, White Rascal and Avery IPA will do it up big-time starting at noon. Eight pigs will be a-roastin’, vintage beers will be tapped, and music will keep the party moving.
For super beer snobs, the vertical tasting will be a trip down memory lane. As with wine, a vertical beer tasting samples different “vintages” to see how the recipe developed over time. Lovers of Avery Brewing will be in heaven. Tickets to the birthday party, running from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, are $20 and are available at the door. Vertical-tasting tickets are also $20, and are available only in advance at . The tasting starts at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Note, though, that tickets to the party are a separate charge if you go to the tasting. It’s a chunk of change, but all proceeds from the party will go to charity.
Kathleen St. John: 303-954-1568 or kstjohn@gmail.com
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, it said bartender Adam Hodak as not among the winners at the 42 Below Coctail World Cup. Hodak won second place.
