BARTENDERS BASH SERIES 2007 RECAP!

By Rob Husted
Photos by Kevin Nichols & Rob Husted


We are excited to announce that Bartenders Bash is Back!!! Not only is it back bigger then ever but back at its rightful place at Holiday Isle complete with the Flair Bartending contest, Bikini contest, liquor vendors, mishaps and mayhem...
We first start out where it all began... "Holiday Isle" in the Florida Keys where long time Flair legend Bill Long ran this event for many years. This event always had its own charm as there was always an element of mystery to the competition because the competitors don't know the time limit, drinks, sponsors or pretty much anything else until the day of the comp. So we had to keep this tradition going with the series. Now handed down to BarWars LLC, Bill was free to enter the competition himself. With twenty compeitors and lots of free liqour being handed out... Rodrigo Delpech was this years winner, followed by James Hadhazy in 2nd, Nicolas Antivero in 3rd and Bill Long won "Best Rookie". ;-)  
  Best of all Elieen McGuire announced that the deal for the condos fell through and "Holiday Isle is not going condo!" meaning Bartenders Bash will be back at "Holiday Isle" for many more years to come!

Then on June 3th - 5th 2007 there was another "End of Season In-the-Party" in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at Bahia Cabana. It is just like Bartenders Bash in the keys but just a month later... Complete with a Flair Bartending competition, Bikini contest and tons of free liquor! All of the rooms on the resort were rented out to the liqour vendors and bartenders as well.

And then we headed over Monday night June 4th 2007 to Blue Martini in Fort Lauderdale for the 2nd event of the "Bartenders Bash Series" where the contestants had to make an original and tasty drink "Iron Chef" style with a secret ingredient they found out only 1 hour beforehand. Mauro Garrido with his "Mexican Wasabe" and an incredible Flair round took top honors that night. Followed by Martin Janica in 2nd and Nicolas Antivero in 3rd and "Best Rookie" going to Jorge Zayas.

 
 

With another Flair bartending contest followed by the third event the next day at Bahia Cabana on Tuesday June 5th 2007 the contestants came back to battle it out again and this time they found out the required drinks 1 hour ahead of time again so they had to memorize the drinks and put together their rountines on the spot. Nicolas Antivero came out on top this day with a fun and difficult round performed in front of the Fort Lauderdale local hospitality scene under the Florida sun. Followed by Mauro Garrido in 2nd and Martin Janica in 3rd and "Best Rookie" going to Drew Bryant.

 

Don't forget to plan for this event next year and Check your liver at the door and bring your pay stub that proves you work in the service industry as a "tipped employee" because these events are closed off to the public and reserved for the true party people that serve all year round and finally have a chance to be served. Special thanks to all the judges John Buckley, Mark Schultz, AJ Gruening, T Caplan, Justin Ripp, Brian Loukmas, Nikki Travers, Kyrstal Travers, Amanda Casebolt and Tina, staff Josh Gates and Jim Kessler, the sponsors and duel MC's JD Spradlin and Jordan Mednick for help making these events something to remember.

For more info on the "Bartenders Bash Series" you can check out "www.BarWars.info".

See you there next year!