What happens when 12 teams of mixologists have an hour to create a cocktail out of a limited pantry of ingredients and a surprise liquor? TABLE Magazine’s Cocktail Shake-Off was the answer!
A Cocktail-Lover’s Paradise
This first-time event brought together a number of Pittsburgh restaurants and establishments to gift the community an evening of good spirits, excellent mixologist skills, and plenty of fun. The evening started off with just the bartender teams arrayed against the Pittsburgh skyline as seen from the wide windows of Vision on Fifteenth. Each team was given a surprise liquor which must be the base of the cocktail, but the rest of the recipe was up to them. To keep it local, the spirits were from distillers like Liberty Pole Spirits and Wigle Whiskey.
What happened at Shake-Off?
An hour before opening the doors, TABLE Magazine Publisher Justin Matase released the teams in Guy’s Grocery Games-style to shop the pantry for products such as Boba Pops Cocktail Caviar and basics like sugars, herbs, and citrus fruits.
In the time between shopping the pantry and opening the doors to attendees, each team took to their stations with laser-focus. What ensued was the creation of 12 batch cocktails using unique flavor combinations ready for judging by a panel of professional judges and all of the public who attended the event.
After receiving a commemorative TABLE Magazine sample glass and taste-testing all the cocktails, professional judges as well as hundreds of tasters cast their votes for both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice Awards.
Besides the delicious cocktails, attendees also got to enjoy small bites from Café Momentum, take to the dance floor, speak with Pittsburgh businesses like Farm to Table Western PA, and connect with other cocktail lovers in the city.
Visit each Pittsburgh bar on this list (or make their Shake-Off cocktail at home) to form your own conclusions about which team should take home the top prize at the next Cocktail Shake-Off. Breaking news: there will be another!
The Contestants
- Blue Sky / Tyler Lewis and Courtney Vock
- Bonfire / Amanda Wilkerson-Kelley and Matthew Burns
- Con Alma / Hannah McKee, Dillon Hvizdash, Annabelle Deufel
- DiAnoia’s Eatery / Nami York, Coina Cortazzo, Maddison Fyffe
- fl.2 / Mustafa Kurtcu, Randy Recker, Aleksa Thomas
- Lo Bar Cocktail Services / Lisa Considine and Aubrey Halliburton
- Monterey Bay Fish Grotto / Anthony Scaramacho, Laticia Ward, and James Schillinger
- Nemacolin / Badr El Khessassi, Luis Mantilla, and Mack Elliff
- Omni William Penn Speakeasy / Jesse Marino, Jacob Hunt, Jamelia Gramz
- Spirits & Tales / Amnelis Cruz and Janel Dean
- Unspeakable at Ineffable Cà Phê / Eva Kobylar and Bri Gartley
- The Warren Bar & Burrow / Erik Tennyson, Michael Marts, Ciana Cassi
The Winners
First Place – Judge’s Choice: The Point of No Return
Recipe by Erik Tennyson, Michael Marts, and Ciana Cassi of The Warren Bar & Burrow
Taste buds were at full attention with notes of basil, lime, and spicy ginger melding together Crooked Creek Distillery Signature Rye, vermouth, bitters, and a pop of Boba Pops Raspberry boba. The judges were wild for it and gave it number-one status.
First Place – People’s Choice: Sunny Days Ahead
Recipe by Badr El Khessassi, Luis Mantilla, and Mack Elliff – Nemacolin
What happens when you blend timeless sophistication with a delightful twist? A praiseworthy cocktail masterpiece! Team Nemacolin won over the crowd with their blend of Wigle Pennsylvania Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Martini Rosso, amaretto, lemon-orange oleo syrup, Angostura and orange bitters, and a Valencia orange spritz topper.
Second Place – Judge’s Choice: The Calabrian Martini
Recipe by Lisa Considine and Aubrey Halliburton of Lo Bar Cocktail Services
Sometimes simplicity cuts through the noise like a sharp blade. The clarity of flavor here came from Ridge Runner Gin, rosemary- and lemon-infused dry vermouth, bergamot liqueur, and charred lemon peel garnish. Stunning and sippable.
Second Place – People’s Choice: Pink Whale
Recipe by Eva Kobylar and Bri Gartley of Unspeakable at Ineffable Ca Phé
Originality and a freewheeling sense of adventure harmonized a wide range of flavors. Kingfly White Rum, Amaro 05, Red Ribbon Strawberry Cream Soda, as well as lime, coconut cream, bitters, orange, and basil, took flight and touched the sun.
Third Place – Judge’s Choice: Apples to Oranges
Recipe by Anthony Scaramacho, Laticia Ward, and James Schillinger of Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
Boyd & Blair vodka is the base. Melannurca apple liqueur and Red Ribbon Orange Soda are the theme. The combo is oh-so-delicious.
Third Place – Judge’s Choice Tie: Scarlet Macaw
Recipe by Jesse Marino, Jacob Hunt, Jamelia Gramz of Omni William Penn Speakeasy
From a negroni-like base of Lucky Sign Gin, Campari, and amaro, with additions of rosemary-orange simple syrup, lime juice, apple brandy and bitters, a bright and happy sip is born.
Judge’s and People’s Choices: The Good Life
Recipe by Hannah McKee, Dillon Hvizdash, Annabelle Deufel of Con Alma
Big Springs Rye, house-made ginger peach reduction, notes of lemon and licorice, and a dash of Peychaud’s Bitters, will have you living the good life on East Street. With your feet up.
Story by Emma Riva & Kylie Thomas / Event Photography by Laura Petrilla / Cocktail Photography by Dave Bryce
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.