On Monday, October 7th, eight of the best bartenders from around Saint Louis gathered in the Delmar Maker’s District at The Fountain on Delmar, to compete in the Great Coffee Cocktail Showdown.
(TLDR) See the Top 3 Drinks + Get Daniela Pedraza's Popular Vote Winning Recipe |
The night was a showcase of their talents, our coffees, the Fountain, and a vast array of spirits supplied by Pinnacle Imports and Haus Alpenz. Espressos, concentrates, and even Vietnamese coffee brewers filled the bar and the cocktails with a warm buzz, as each bartender was given ten minutes to prepare and present four drinks to our panel of judges.
When not competing, each bartender served guests samples of their signature cocktails outside in the common space. I was lucky enough to be invited to photograph the event, lucky enough to get to taste the drinks, and wanted to highlight each of these wonderfully unique bartenders in the hopes that you’ll go out and experience their skills for yourself.
Jimmy Nguyen @mixed_by_eddie Walnut Espresso Martini
First up, from the Saigon Cafe in the Central West End, was Jimmy Nguyen, a first-generation Vietnamese American who used Espresso 700 to brew a traditional ca phe sua da, which you might recognize as a Vietnamese iced coffee.
After the coffee dripped through the stainless steel filter basket, melting the rich, sweetened-condensed milk below, Jimmy frothed the mixture and combined it with other ingredients to create a Walnut Espresso Martini - blending both of his worlds into a single glass.
Jayesh Nakte @mr_perfectionist_1011 Spiced Latte
Next, Jayesh Nakte took over the bar to create his Spiced Latte. Born and raised in Maharashtra, India, Jayesh developed a coffee habit in college, as well as a taste for Jameson.
His presentation was as velvety smooth as his cocktail, which held a rich, hazelnut comfort beneath its dusting of cocoa powder. You can sample Jayesh’s skill at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Saint Louis, where he now works after years in India’s top hotels.
Daniela Pedraza @danimal_xoxo Dulce de St. Louis
Daniela’s cocktail, the Dulce de St. Louis, paid homage to coffee’s international heritage by mixing liquors from Italy and Indonesia with Espresso 700, along with a cherry liqueur.
Dulce de Leche (goat’s milk caramel) rimmed the glass in a nod to our favorite goatherd from Ethiopia, and a dehydrated cherry garnish also nodded to the cherry that encloses coffee beans before processing. Daniela leads the bartending and education program at Vicia of the Take Root Hospitality group, and specializes in non-alcoholic beverage options.
Lex Ranstead @cosmic_disorder Kal di Maybe
The Kal Di Maybe was a swirl of delight, which Lex presented as a centering of the bitterness of coffee as a pleasurable experience. They’re on an amari kick as they prepare to help open Aperi, located inside of Good Company, in the Grove. Lex described the finished drink as a cross between a rum old-fashioned, an espresso martini, and a dark amaro digestif.
Seeing our goat encased in an orb of ice reminded me how the simple delight of seeing beautiful art can enhance the full experience of a latte, how we taste things first with our eyes, then our noses, then our tongues. Lex was even kind enough to prepare a fifth cocktail and offer it to me!
Amanda Crawford @myspiritedjourney Ski Lodge Latte
As bartender at the Saint Louis Club with 19 years of experience, Amanda created the Ski Lodge Latte as an approachable drink packed with bold flavors.
Chocolate, walnut, and the smoked fruitiness of Batavia Arrack created a drink that’s perfect for warming up by the fire after a day on the slopes. The drink was garnished with a pirouette cookie, taking the edge off in more than one way!
Heather McGhee @aloysiusmagoo ...Like Arabian Days
"…Like Arabian Days" brought dark, smokey vibes to the bar, along with cherry/rhubarb brightness, and a classic coffee and chocolate combo supplied by our Cold Brew Concentrate and cocoa powder garnish. Heather’s inspiration was the first cup of coffee on a camping trip as the previous night’s fire is stoked back to life and a sense of calm relaxation fills the morning.
Banhez Mezcal and Amaro Sfumato supplied the smokiness and Heather brought the creativity that's always on display at The Royale to the contest, as cardamom and star anise mixed seamlessly into this evocative cocktail.
Chris Wagner @wagnerct Mass Effect
Chris’s sense of humor was on display immediately, as he joked that if he went over his time limit, something would have gone seriously wrong. Which made sense a minute later, as he revealed that he’d created his cocktail, the Mass Effect, in a batch.
Conceived as a coffee punch and dispensed from a coffee urn into black to-go cups, it was an ode to the church coffee he’d experienced after Sunday Mass as a child.
Served with freshly prepared beignets, Chris testified that coffee and donuts always have the power to evoke nostalgia, community, and camaraderie. You can find him at my local bar, Platypus, or just down the street in the Grove at the newly reopened Atomic by Jamo.
Madeline Lackey @getmadgetglad Cherry-Coloured Funk
Our final delight of the evening, the Cherry-Coloured Funk, was inspired by the music of the Cocteau Twins. It mixed fortified wine with our Cold Brew Concentrate and a few “funkier” ingredients, to create a cherry-colored, funky tart cordial that smoothed into a vanilla/coffee finish.
Garnished with a Luxardo cherry and a candied hibiscus flower, this cocktail sang with beauty. You can find Madeline’s other musically inspired creations at Tree House on South Grand. Scroll through the next photoset to learn about the winners and how to taste their drinks!
THE RESULTS OF A GREAT NIGHT
Phew! The competition was stiff, the drinks were stiffer, and all of the bartenders brought their A-games, our judges and guests had a great evening, and of course, winners were named!
Third place and $100 was won by Lex of Good Company. The popular vote and second place (earning a $100 gift card to The Fountain locations and $200 cash, respectively) went to Daniela of Vicia, who clearly accomplished her goal of loving and caring for others during the open session. Finally, Heather McGhee of The Royale won the judges vote and the $300 first place prize with her display of inspired creativity.
If I’ve got you craving cocktails, “…Like Arabian Nights” will be featured on the menu at The Fountain on Delmar, as the winner of the Great Coffee Cocktail Showdown. As a bonus, read on for Daniela's Dulce De St. Louis recipe, our popular vote winner!
