ABSOLUT® recently announced that program partner and series producer, LX.TV, has crowned Joseph (Joe) Brooks the winner of the second annual season of “ON THE ROCKS: THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA’S TOP BARTENDER” competition.
Click here to check out the finalist’s cocktail recipes on our MIXOLOGY PAGE!
For the first time ever, the intense glass-to-glass competition that took place at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas was captured on three half-hour episodes that aired nationwide on NBC owned and operated stations throughout November.
Hosted by popular TV personality Maria Sansone, eight finalists were chosen after various casting calls and auditions held in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. These finalists were then challenged to demonstrate their talent, knowledge, speed, accuracy and agility for serving up delicious libations that possess both substance and style and were judged on their personality, cocktail preparation and pairing cocktails with food.
Brooke, who was awarded $100,000, is a native New Yorker who followed his heart to Los Angeles where his bartending career blossomed. Over the last three years, Joe has honed his craft at local LA hotspots including the Edison Lounge and Copa D’oro.
Brooke commented, “This has been an amazing ride – literally a dream come true. My fellow competitors are all incredibly talented, each bringing with them a unique set of skills and styles that raised the bar and added to the pressure of the competition. I am honored and thrilled to be selected as this season’s top mixologist. This competition is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the folks from ABSOLUT and LXTV who put this on.”
Ian Crystal, Brand Director of ABSOLUT Vodka added, “In the final episode, through a series of rigorous tests, Joe proved that he was the guy to beat but it was in the final test – create the ultimate ABSOLUT signature cocktail – that Joe’s passion for his craft secured his place in the exclusive club of master mixologists. As the world’s most iconic vodka, we are proud to help discover and support innovative and stylish bartenders like Joe Brooke who have what it takes to bring the art of mixology to a bold, new level.”
Morgan Hertzan, NBC Local Media Senior Vice President of Programming and General Manager of LX.TV concluded, “We toast the skilled bartender who came away with the top prize. This series is a winning format and this year we have successfully engaged an even broader audience by adding TV to the media mix.”
Click here to visit LX.TV’s On The Rocks: The Search for America’s Top Bartender
