SPEED RACK RETURNS TO NEW YORK

Serious stirring and shaking is about to happen, thanks to the New York return of Speed Rack, the all-female speed-bartending competition that raises money for breast cancer charities. The fifth national tour will stop in New York on Monday, December 14, as it brings together 21 of the best, brightest and fastest female bartenders in the region. To date, Speed Rack has raised more than $350,000 for breast cancer charities in the U.S. and abroad.
 
Contestants will compete in timed heats to make rounds of cocktails, culled from a list of 50 accepted industry-standard classic recipes, in front of a panel of judges and a crowd of excited viewers. Judges rate each drink based on prep time and accuracy. The judging panel at Speed Rack New York will feature such leading cocktail-world luminaries as: Eben Freeman (head of bar operations and beverage development AvroKO Hospitality Group), Johnny Iuzzini (award-winning pastry chef, author and TV personality, Sugar Fueled Inc.), Julie Reiner (owner of Flatiron Lounge, Clover Club and co-owner Leyenda), and Jordana Rothman (food and drink writer, author of TACOS: Recipes and Provocations). Pernod Ricard’s Chris Patino will emcee the proceedings and Tom Johnson will DJ the night away.
 
WHAT: Speed Rack New York 
 
WHERE: Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North 6th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
                       
WHEN: Monday, December 14, 2015, 6-10pm   
 
COST: Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. With suggested donation, attendees receive cocktails from premium sponsors.
 
WHY: To date, Speed Rack has raised more than $350,000 globally for breast cancer charities and elevated top female bartenders in America and abroad who go shaker-to-shaker competing for industry glory and a Speed Rack title.  
 
THE CONTENDERS:
Roxanne River Bockius – Project Parlor
Ranjini Bose – Dear Irving, Seamstress
Celeste Colon – Wicked Wolf Tavern
Amanda Elder – Pouring Ribbons, Mayahuel
Rachel Gerber – Tavern 29
Jen Gordon – Lure Fishbar
Kayla Hasbrook – Pouring Ribbons, ABC Cocina
Lacy Hawkins – Clover Club, The NoMad
Amy Koffsky – Donna, Juno
Lauren McLaughlin – Fresh Kills
Sarah Morrissey – Dear Irving
Amanda de la Nuez – Leyenda
Erika Ordonez – Slowly Shirley, Holiday Cocktail Lounge
Nicole Alexandria Osorio – Tazzina
Tricia Rossiene – Gramercy Terrace
Tess Anne Sawyer – Holiday Cocktail Lounge
Kiersten Schilinski- Gallow Green, The Heath
Brooke Smith – Dead Rabbit
Lissette Tabales – Red Rooster
Mellie Wiersma – Madam Geneva
Anna Wingfield – Mother’s Ruin, Ba’sik
 
PRIZES: Miss Speed Rack New York, as well as her fellow winners from each city from the tour will receive several prizes, including a $500 honorarium toward travel to the National Finals in New York (June 2016) provided by St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. The grand prize will be announced at the National Finals.
 
FYI: Speed Rack, Inc. was created by nationally acclaimed bartenders and industry ambassadors, Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, who were named among the “Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink” by Food & Wine and Fortune magazines in 2015.
                       
Additional information can be found on the Speed Rack website www.speed-rack.com, on Facebook http://www.facebook/speedrackinfo and on Twitter @speed_rack.