On Monday, November 14, over 200 cocktail enthusiasts gathered at the Sons of Essex in NYC to witness the final round of the Absolut Vodka and Thrillist.com National Online Absolut Best Bloody in America Recipe Contest. The nine finalists arrived in New York to shake and stir live for the top prize—the coveted Absolut Bloody Trophy and a trip to Sweden, home of Absolut Vodka.
Finalists were:
• Steven Alix—X Bar, Denver, CO
• Melissa Rose Fazzolar—Waterzooi Belgian Bistro, NYC
• Jessica Jordan—Fishbar, Manhattan Beach, CA
• James Kuehner—Signature Room, Chicago, IL
• Luis Martinez—The Patio on Guerra, McAllen, TX
• Joey Nycs—Amuse, Miami, FL
• Amanda Shevchuck—Appetites on Main, Exton, PA
• Stuart Stewart—Cosmo, Tulsa, OK
• Erik Weaver—R Place, Seattle, WA
The finalists were chosen out of 50 winners from 50 states. To see a list of the Best Absolut Bloodies in every state, visit https://www.facebook.com/Absolut?sk=app_7146470109.
“King Cocktail” Dale DeGroff was the event host and on the panel of judges was Allen Katz, Director of Mixology for Southern Wine & Spirits, Julie Reiner, Co-owner & Beverage Director for Clover Club and Lani Kai, and Ben Robinson, Senior Editor of Thrillist. All interacted with the contestants and sample their signature Absolut Bloody recipes.
At the end of the festivities, the crown for Absolut Best Bloody in America went to Luis Martinez of The Patio in McAllen, TX, for his Absolut Akita Maria.
Absolut Akita Maria
2 parts Absolut Vodka
4 parts tomato juice
½ part lime juice
1 part fresh orange juice
1 small minced basil leaf
1 pinch onion powder
1 pinch garlic powder
1 pinch black pepper
½ part teriyaki sauce
½ part soy sauce
Fingertip-size wasabi paste patty
1 dash sriracha spicy red chii sauce
3 pinches shaved ginger root
Mix all ingredients, except Absolut Vodka, tomato juice and lime juice in a shaker and muddle. In a highball glass rimmed with sea salt, add vodka over ice. Add the muddled ingredients and top with tomato and lime juice. Garnish with a spear of spicy pickled asparagus.
