Back in June 0f 2009 I had the honour of judging a Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail competition at the original Boneta location in Gastown with drinks writer Joanne Sasvari, Angie Belise of Beam Global Canada, and Kentucky’s own legendary Bill Samuels Jr. (esteemed former president of Maker’s Mark).

Competing that day were Danielle Tatarin of DB Bistro (now The Keefer), Keenan Hood of George (now The Keefer), Lauren Mote of The Refinery (now Uva), Simon Kaulback of Boneta (now Mamie Taylor’s), Trevor Kallies of The Granville Room, Kyle Lane of DB Bistro (where is he now?), Kate MacDonald of the Terminal City Club (I think she’s at Clive’s in Victoria now), Bobbi K. of Boneta (now Pauly Saal in Berlin), Justin Tisdall of Market (now Juke), Jon Smolensky of Brix (now Brix & Mortar), Charles Ainsbury of The Diamond (now This Must Be The Place in Sydney, Aus), Heather Perkins of The Irish Heather (now Grit & Grace in Pittsburgh), Jason Kelly of Cobre, and Shaun Layton of George (now Juniper).

The final results were very close. We were tasked with awarding a maximum of 20 points each for Balance, Creativity, Presentation, and the Showcasing of Maker’s Mark, making for a possible total of 80 points. In third place with 72.5 points was JT of Market with his watermelon and rhubarb driven “Marksman’s Target”. With 74 points in second place, pouring his Loretto Process, was Shaun Layton of George.

The winner was Lauren Mote of The Refinery with her 74.5 point Charred Bourbon Sour, a drink that came complete with its on molecular deconstruction on the side (bourbon meringue, bitters and bourbon gelee, charred oak brittle, etc). While not particularly a fan of side dishes with my drinks, there was no denying the achievement in the glass here. Her cocktail, a summery thing that I’d have again and again, was deliciously without fault. Here it is, should you want to make it at home…

Results aside, it was an amazing crew of competitors, and I remember the day very well as an especially good one. The list of bartenders above might give the impression that their community is nomadic and often torn apart as people come and go, but it’s really not. It’s a reality they’re used to, and it makes them even more tight-knit. Only one of that day’s competitors has stuck with the same company in the 5+ years since (hat tip to Trevor Kallies and the Donnelly Group). Hell, even the event’s host bar – the original Boneta – is just a memory (now Bauhaus). But it’s the memories that do the bonding, and I suppose it’s the bonds that make days like these memorable. Well, that and host Mark Brand’s shaved head…

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