Foodie - Host - Writer - Consultant
New Haven, CT
stephen
On Sunday, November 8th, Stephen Fries in partnership with Global Entertainment and Media and the New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the first annual Elm City Signature Cocktail Competition! Check out the great cocktail recipes below as well as pictures from the event!
116 Crown Drink: Forth & Clyde
Bartender/Owner : John Ginnetti
1 oz. Hendrick’s Gin
1 oz. Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1 t. Fresh Local Honey
1 Pinch Salemme Red Pepper Flakes
Mix first 5 ingredients in a cocktail shaker and stir until honey dissolves.
Add Salemme Pepper and top with ice.
Shake until shaker develops a frost.
Strain into a Stemmed Glass
Bar Drink: Sweet Dreams
Bartender: Matt Lender
1 oz. Stoli Strawberry
3 oz. Gloria Ferrier Champagne
4 oz. Passion Fruit juice and puree
Crushed fresh Strawberries
Method
Combine Stoli Strawberry and Passion fruit juice in a mixing glass with crushed ice. Shake until cold
Serve in glass with crushed ice. Pour Champagne and Strawberries over crushed ice,
Pour Stoli and juice over top and stir.
Bar 19 (Omni Hotel) Drink: Rocher inspired HOT CHOCOLATE (The People’s Choice)
Bartender: Leviena Vasques
1 oz. Godiva
1 oz. Frangelico
Hot Latte syrup
Steamed Milk
Whipped Cream
Nutmeg
Method
Add steamed milk to liquors and syrup stir and garnish with whipped cream & nutmeg
Leon’s Drink: “Sotto Bosco” : Fruit of the Forest
Bartender: Shawn Ruggerio
6 Rasberries
2 sprigs Sage
2 oz. sliced Cucumber
1 oz. Fresh Orange Juice
4 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1 oz. Cream de Casis
1 ½ oz. Ginger Beer
1 t simple syrup
Method
Muddle cucumber, raspberry and sage
Add liquor & Ginger Beer
Shake, strain and Serve
Bentara Drink: Malaysian Star
Bartender: Nicolai Hebert
3 oz. Stoli “O”
½ oz. Amaretto Di Saronno
½ oz. Simple Syrup
1 ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
Pinch of Ground Ginger
Pinch Ground Star Anise
Whole Star Anise
Method
Shaken and Strained
Chilled Martini Glass dipped in
1t Sesame Seed Oil
1t Sugar
Pinch of Ground Star Anise and Whole Star Anise floating on top.
Bespoke Drink:The Intermezzo The WINNER of 1st Annual Elm Signature Cocktail Competition
Bartender: Steve Bayusik
1 ½ ounces Right Gin
3-4 fresh ripe Strawberries
2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
¾ teaspoon White Sugar
1 ¾ ounces Sour Mix
Mint Leaves, blackberries or strawberries for garnish
Method
Muddle strawberries with sugar and vinegar.
Put into shaker ,add ice, gin and sour mix. Shake and serve in a highball glass. Garnish
Dolci Drink: Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Bartender: Amanda Platt
½ oz. Stoli Strawberry
½ oz. Stoli Vanilla
¼ oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
¼ oz. Llords Strawberry Liqueur
1/2 oz. Cool Swan Liqueur
Hershey Chocolate Syrup
Method
Mix all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice
Garnish Martini glass swirl chocolate on inside of entire glass
Pour mixture into glass
Draw a heart on top of drink with syrup so it floats
Serve with chocolate covered Strawberry on a plate decorated with Chocolate syrup
Heirloom Drink: Perfect Pear
Bartender: Sean D’Addio
3 oz.Grey Goose Poire Vodka
1.5 oz. fresh pear puree
splash of fresh lime juice
splash of simple syrup
½ oz. egg whites
Fresh Pear
Method
Combine all ingredients in shaker and shake dry (no ice added).
Add ice and shake vigorously.
The egg whites will produce a frothy head on the cocktail.
Serve up in a martini glass.
Garnish with a thin slice of fresh pear
Ibiza Drink: Otonal
Bartender/ Owner: Juan Carlos
Cinnamon sugar for rim
Ice
1 ounce of Maker’s Mark Bourbon
3/4 ounce of Orchard Pear Fruit Liqueur
2 ounces of homemade spiced apple cider
Orange foam
Poached pear for decoration
Glassware
10 ounce martini glass
Boston Shaker
Procedure
Moisten the outside rim of martini glass and dip into a plate
with cinnamon sugar to make rim.
Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Bourbon, Orchard Pear Fruit Liqueur
and spiced cider and shake well.
Strain into prepared martini glass and garnish with orange foam and pear.
Recipe for spiced cider
3/4 ounce unsweetened apple cider
1 orange
5 cloves
½ cinnamon stick
5 allspice berries
Bring to a boil all the ingredients, reduce heat and let it simmer for
20 minutes.
Orange foam recipe
3 gelatin leaves
3 cups of water
12 ounces of orange juice
1 demitasse spoon of orange extract
3 ounces of simple syrup
Combine the orange juice, water and simple syrup in medium heat
until it boils.
In a separate bowl, bloom the gelatin leaves for 10 minutes.
Remove gelatin from water and squeeze out water.
Fill a bowl with ice place gelatin in bowl and mix with the juice mixture
slowly and beat until gelatin is frothy. Allow mixture to cool down.
Pour mixture into a canister and place in refrigerator until is ready to be used.

Photo Courtesy of Peter Casolino / New Haven Register

Photo Courtesy of Peter Casolino / New Haven Register
New Haven, CT
stephen