Photography by Saturnine Studios
Demetrio Gonzalez and Savannah Lopez taking on their first cocktail competition, together as a team. Bishop Mixology comes onto the scene, supported by our mother bar The Reagan, to secure a 2nd Place victory.
Not long after being inspired to make drinks myself (and fully integrating my obsession into all available social media algorithms), I came across this wild idea of cocktail competitions. You see every stop in the production pipeline of cocktails eligible for some type of award, from distillers to bottles, and from cocktails to bars/bartenders. This aroused my competitive nature to an extreme curiosity. I’ve been competing since as long as I can remember in some shape or form, and finding to way to be successful at the art of making and presenting cocktails would represent a more complete expression of my inner nature. Yes, no matter the outcome, creative vulnerability within a community undoubtedly leads to a more intimate connection with the magic itself.
It also helps if you’re kinda good at it.
I definitely want to thank my bar family for their help and their belief in me! For this contest, I definitely would not have been able to do it without them (for more than one reason). Together they have opened doors for me I have yet to find.
It is the kind of experience that makes you want a little more every time you finish. I’m looking forward to doing more, I really like the opportunity to lay down an entire thought process behind a drink from the glassware to the ingredients!
I encourage the ambitious mixologist to at least attend these competitions, there’s always a lot to learn, and you might even end up being pleasantly surprised by the diversity of cocktail culture. There’s always a different approach, a more interesting technique, and another story to be told.
I specifically want to thank:
- Eddie Cruz, Host, Ilegal mezcal representative, and all-around badass. This guy has forgotten more about agave spirits than we’ll ever know.
- Victor and Sophia from Death By Bartender, for putting together an event that would become a catalyst for our connection.
- Savannah Lopez, for her boldness in joining the Bishop team with a little less that optimal prior notice…
- Micaela Werner, for her mentorship and supreme ‘spirit’ual sorcery.
- Last but not least, to Benny Franks bar, not only for their venue hosting the event but also for their reputation becoming legend among the local bartenders.
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