So, it seems a few months ago a list was drawn up of some of the USA’s favorite bartenders, over at cocktailkingdom.com.

They’ve now entered these bartenders in a contest, the top 50 of which will compete for what one can only assume to be a really big prize.

Oregon has got quite a few on there, and even more are OBG members. So head on over to cocktailkingdom.com and show your support by voting for your top 10 OBG members!

• Bradley Dawson
• Jacob Grier
• Craig Hermann
• Neil Kopplin
• Tommy Klus
• Elizabeth Markham
• Jeffrey Morgenthaler
• Blair Reynolds
• David Shenaut
• Daniel Shoemaker
• Lee Watson
• Evan Zimmerman

The Oregon Bartenders Guild would like to thank everyone in the Oregon Restaurant Industry for KICKING MAJOR ASS this year.

Before the mad rush of the holidays, let’s blow off a little steam together by gathering at Gilt Club on December 7th @ 5:30pm for Champagne, and Champagne Cocktails.

This event will be $20 for the General Public. If you are a member of the OBG or have an OLCC card, your admission is FREE.

Your ticket in will be your OLCC card. If you are not a member of the Oregon Bartenders Guild and would like access to the benefits we have to offer, there will be an opportunity for you to join.

If you had the opportunity to attend this event last year, you know how much fun it is!!!

We’re really looking forward to this event, and hope we see you there!!!!

Here’s one of a series of videos put together by Beech Marketing’s Home Video Studio for the OBG. There’ll be more videos coming up shortly. Enjoy!

On Sunday November 1st the Oregon Bartenders Guild will be holding the NovemBeer Cocktail party for charity at the beloved Cassidy’s restaurant at 1331 SW Washington St. Ticket holders will receive 6 cocktails using beer inspired ingredients from some of Oregon’s best micro breweries. Your mixologists for the evening will be Elizabeth Markham, Xtian Rouillier, Lee Watson and Chris Churilla. Tickets are $30 dollars and will be available Monday October 5th at the following fine establishments-
Cassidy’s
Carlyle
Liberty Bar
Tear Drop Lounge
Clyde Common
Alu
The Downward Dog (Corvallis)

All proceeds will be donated to Schoolhouse Supplies of Portland.

Hey Folks, if you haven’t gotten the information on next weekend’s GADF from the GADF website, here’s the schedule to let you know where to go and how to get there.  Some items are off the official schedule, but if you’re coming into town and looking for more fun stuff to do, Portland has been known to have a thing or two up its sleeve.

Saturday, October 24th

11am -  Festival opens at the Bossanova Ballroom with keynote address from Bill Owens, president of the American Distilling Institute
11am – 4:30pm -  MixMaster Mixology Competition preliminary rounds
12:00-4pm  – House Spirits Open House, Uchi No Kami Shochu release party (map here)
4:00pm-6pm -  House Spirits Cocktail Tasting at Biwa
Looking for something to do that afternoon and evening? Check out Portland’s Distillery Row, or hit up an OBG Member at one of Portland’s great local bars, full list of members and their respective bar at the members page.

Sunday, October 25th
11am – 12pm: “Smoky Maria” Bloody Mary Brunch, featuring Del Maguey, at Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub.
11am – Festival Opens
1pm – 5pm -  Spirits Seminars

• Robert Hess: The Man Behind The Curtain: Molecular Mixology’s Little Secret
• Blair Reynolds: Tropical Mixology and the PNW Connection
• Neyah White: Barrel to Barrel, the magic of wood

5pm-7pm -  MixMaster Mixology Competition Finals

8pm – 11pm – GADF Invite-Only afterparty at Beaker & Flask, sponsored by Bacardi. Invites will be sent by Monday, October 19th.

This is thrilling, as the list of competitors for the Great American Distillers Festival Mixology Competition has been announced. This list represents not just the best of Oregon, but brings in a few master mixologists from the left coast and beyond.  Cocktail bloggers are well represented too.  The list below represents the final competitors. This is going to be a heated battle, but who will walk away top dog?

• Suzanne Allard, Ned Ludd, 2007 GADF Mixology Champion
• Anu Apte, Rob Roy, Seattle, WA
• Andrew Bohrer, Naga Cocktail Lounge, Seattle, WA
• Lydia Crash, Independent Bartender
• Bradley Dawson, Bluehour
• Kinn Edwards, Aqua
• Brian Gilbert, Teardrop Lounge
• Ricky Gomez, Cure, New Orleans, LA
• Jacob Grier, Carlyle
• Jake Bliven, Starlight Lounge, Eugene, OR
• Zane Harris, Rob Roy, Seattle, WA
• Tommy Klus, Teardrop Lounge
• Elizabeth Markham, Beaker & Flask/Victory Bar
• Michael Robertson, The Driftwood Room
• Jim Romdall, Vessel, Seattle, WA
• Matthew Schuler, Cocktail Blogger
• Dan Stern, Urban Farmer
• Jeremy Stone, The Heathman
• Ali Tahsini, Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco, CA
• Joe Turner, Gilt Club
• Andrew Volk, Clyde Common
• Lee Watson, Alu
• Evan Zimmerman, Laurelhurst Market
• Alison Webber, Gilt Club

On Sunday October 4th the OBG held the 1792 Ridgemont Reserve cocktail party at the Secret Society ballroom. Every guest received a serving of 1792 as they walked through the door. As the night progressed a full buffet of salad, olives, mixed nuts, braised ribs, mac and cheese, bacon pie and various cheeses was served.  The mildly dry nature of the bourbon combined with the lingering finish lent itself very well to a wide variety of cocktails which included the New Yorker with homemade grenadine, the Manhattan and a take on the Morning Glory Fizz with absinthe, lemon, powdered sugar and soda water . For those that stayed till the end a surprise fourth cocktail, the Stone Fence, was served using house spiced cider from Corvallis restaurant, Cloud 9.

1792 was recently acquired by Sazerac who also owns such brands as Buffalo Trace, Blanton’s and Eagle Rare. The date, 1792, refers to the year that Kentucky became a state of the Union.

This party was a great success due to the help of Sazerac representative Rebecca Peterson and the guests that attended. Thank you to everyone who participated. If you haven’t been to Secret Society lounge they have a great list of classic cocktails often using handmade ingredients. Hope to see you at the next event.

This Thursday, September 17th, Pernod-Ricard will be hosting a Chivas Regal Tasting and Lunch with global brand ambassador Alex Robertson at Victory Bar.

Lunch starts at noon, with Chivas tasting and discussion.  Pernod-Ricard will also be joining us, and will be discussing topics such as the upcoming bartender exchange program, and the BARSmarts Bartender education program.  Bartenders interested in furthering their education and a bit of travel will not want to miss this event.  Heck, it’s a free lunch to boot!

All OBG Members welcome.  Not a member?  Sign up here!

Hey there member bartenders of the OBG,

OBG Member Lee Watson has put together this event, and is looking to fill a few seats. This ought to be interesting!

There’s so much more to Canadian whiskey….

Alu is hosting an industry tasting of Forty Creek Canadian Whisky with distiller John K Hall, sponsored by the Oregon Bartender’s Guild. John Hall is a unique figure in the world of distilling. Not only does he distill an exceptional whisky, among other distilled products, he is also a winemaker. This marriage results in a noteworthy line of products which utilizes this mix of disciplines.

The tasting starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, September 8. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and cocktails with Forty Creek will be offered after the tasting. The event is free and open to all industry professionals with an interest in the art of distilling.

Alu
2831 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Tuesday, September 8
12 noon

30 seats available for Active Bartenders, no cost. RSVP to lee.watson@runbox.com

Hey folks,

did you know the OBG has a forum? It’s been a bit slow as of late, so come on in and liven it up! Let us know your favorite recent recipes, or talk up a new tonic you’re testing. It’s a great way to stay connected in between events.

Apply for forum membership today!