Garrison Brothers Distillery Announces Semi-Finalists in Statewide Bartender Contest Where Texas’ Top Bartenders Will Test Their Talents to Win $10,000
Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced today the semi-finalists in its Bourbon Brawl 2020 contest, a state-wide bartender competition with a grand prize of $10,000.
The results are in and the five semi-finalists for each city have been determined. They are:
San Antonio
Trinh Quan Huy-Philip – Rebelle at St. Anthony Hotel – Golden Ticket Winner
Gladys Estrada – Range – Consumers’ Choice Winner
Cruz Gutierrez – Jet Setter
Michelle Stephenson – Tributary at Marriott Rivercenter
Johnny Yumol – Bar du Mon Ami
Austin
Liam Connors – Fixe Southern House – Golden Ticket Winner
Caitlin Hood – Sway | Rock Rose – Consumers’ Choice Winner
Ricky Cobia – OTOKO + Watertrade
Nikolas Zoylinos – Here Nor There
Sarah Rahl – Goldie’s Sunken Bar at Austin Proper Hotel
Dallas
David Jennings – Hide – Golden Ticket Winner
Rey Gonzalez – Z’s at the Curry | Waco – Consumers’ Choice Winner
Lance Smith – Bourbon & Banter at The Statler
Raymond Waring – PI.E 3.14 Everyday Eatery
Kiyoko Kinoshita – Lounge 31
Fort Worth
Megan McClinton – Proper – Golden Ticket Winner
Zak Houara – Alamo Drafthouse | North Richland Hills – Consumers’ Choice Winner
Nancy Conaway – Cassidy’s | Radisson Hotel Fossil Creek | Arlington
Andrew Steakley – Barnett’s Public House | Waco
Deven Kampenhout – Thompson’s Bookstore
Houston
Jeremy Young – Petroleum Club of Houston (Restaurant) | Private Club – Golden Ticket Winner
Malachi Boykin – Taste Bar + Kitchen – Consumers’ Choice Winner
Sean Bell – World of Beer | Bryan
Gregory Perez – Monkey’s Tail
Rustyn Brandt – Tecovas
Golden Ticket winners are bartenders who were visited by Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery. After tasting their cocktails and listening to their stories of inspiration, Garrison offered a select few the opportunity to advance on the Bourbon Brawl Semi-finals, on the spot. Consumers’ Choice winners are the bartenders whose cocktails received the most votes via Garrison Brother’s voting app.
In each semi-final competition, the city’s top five bartenders and mixologists will showcase their creative and technical cocktail-making skills, vying for the opportunity to represent their home turf at the state-wide final competition in Austin and take home the prestigious title of Garrison Brothers 2020 Bourbon Brawl “Bartender of the Year.” During these events, attendees will enjoy libations while watching the bartenders compete in a three-round, Top Chef-style match-up.
In Round One, guests will sample the five best cocktails in each city and interact with the five semi-finalist bartenders. These cocktails will be crafted with love using the 2020 vintage of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon. Guests will receive one (1) wooden token at check-in to cast a vote for their favorite cocktail.
During Round Two, each bartender will take the stage to prepare and present “Native Texan Wildlife”-themed cocktails in real time. A panel of judges will score each cocktail and factor in the crowd-favorite cocktail from Round One. The two bartenders with the highest scores will advance to Round Three.
Round Three is a mystery ingredient challenge. In this round, the city’s top two bartenders will go head to head to create the best cocktail using secret ingredients from a veiled box. Sampled and scored by the judges, one bartender will be announced as the winner of this semi-final event and will advance to the Finals to compete for the prestigious title of Garrison Brothers 2020 Bourbon Brawl “Bartender of the Year.”
Tickets for each semi-final event are $30. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501(c)3 public charity founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018.
Dates, time, and locations for each event are below. The Garrison Brothers team highly encourages attendees to use local ride-sharing services, ensuring a safe ride home for everyone. Lyft codes are provided for $5 off each ride for up to 200 rides at each event.
Houston
Thursday, March 26 | 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The Houston Event Venue | 3118 Harrisburg Blvd | Houston, TX 77003
Tickets | Lyft code BB2020HOUSTON
San Antonio
Thursday, April 2 | 6:30 – 10 p.m.
The Arcadian at Sunset Station | 1174 E Commerce St. | San Antonio, TX 78205
Tickets | Lyft code BB2020SA
Dallas
Thursday, April 9 | 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The Empire Room | 1225 N Riverfront Blvd | Dallas, TX 75207
Tickets | Lyft code BB2020DAL
Fort Worth
Thursday, April 16 | 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The Ostreum | 108 South Fwy Ste. 130 | Fort Worth, TX 76104
Tickets | Lyft code BB2020FW
Austin
Thursday, April 23 | 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Springdale Station | 979 Springdale Rd. Ste 160 | Austin, TX 78702
Tickets | Lyft code BB2020AUS
FINALS (Austin)
Thursday, May 7 | 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fair Market | 1100 E 5th Street | Austin, TX 78702
Tickets | Lyft code BOURBONBRAWL2020
For more information on Bourbon Brawl 2020 or Garrison Brothers Distillery, visit garrisonbros.com or follow @garrisonbros on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
