Cocktail shakedown! Iron Bartender contest Thursday

Armed with primary weapons of the trade – cocktail shakers and charisma – four of Portland’s master mixologists will battle for the title of Iron Bartender this week, in a benefit event for Children’s Relief Nursery (CRN). The second annual cocktail competition and party will take over the DreamTENT in the courtyard of Jupiter Hotel from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 21.

Local mixologists Jacob Grier of Carlyle Restaurant, Neil Kopplin of Clyde Common, Elizabeth Markham of Beaker and Flask and Evan Zimmerman of Laurelhurst Market will compete in a mix-off to create the best cocktail using a common “secret” ingredient, which will be unveiled the night of the event. The four will be judged by drink experts Lucy Brennan, owner of Mint and 820, Karen Foley from Imbibe Magazine and Matt Mount from House Spirits, and party guests can sample the cocktails and vote for the “People’s Choice” award. The winning cocktail will be served at CRN’s spring fundraiser, Portland’s Original Iron Chef competition.

“It’s always fun to get out of the usual bartending routine and make drinks in a different environment,” said competing bartender Grier. “And we’re serving drinks made with Krogstad aquavit! This will be a new spirit for a lot of people and the opportunity to try it in cocktails from four creative bartenders is not to be missed.”

Ticket prices include appetizers, live music, a raffle and samples of each competing cocktail, with proceeds to benefit Children’s Relief Nursery. The local organization works to prevent abuse and neglect in young children, so no matter who takes the title – the kids are the real winners here. But still, we couldn’t stop ourselves from asking Greir to try and size up the competition.

“With this level of competition I’d be crazy to bet on winning,” Grier said. “Neil was the first person in Portland to hire me and I learned a lot working with him. Evan won the most recent competition at the Great American Distillers Festival. And Elizabeth is one of my favorite bartenders to visit it in the city. We’re all friends and we’re going to have a great time no matter who comes out on top.”

That’s the spirit!

Want to win free tickets to the Iron Bartender competition!? We’ll award one lucky Neat Sheet reader pair of FREE tickets worth $50 each. It’s easy to enter: Just send an e-mail with the subject title “MIXOLOGIST” to neatsheet@karenvitt.com or leave a comment on this post. We’ll pick two random winners at 4 p.m. this Wednesday, Jan. 20 and you’ll be notified by e-mail. Each will receive a pair of tickets to Iron Bartender at the Jupiter Hotel.

Iron Bartender Competition + Cocktail Party
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 21
Jupiter Hotel, 800 E. Burnside
Tickets: $50; available online or by calling 503-283-4776
www.crn4kids.org

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