42 BELOW’s World Cup of Cocktails @ The Bowery Hotel

Bartenders from all corners of Greater New York coalesced on the terrace of the Bowery Hotel last night to stir, mix, shake, and pour their way to a trip to New Zealand to compete in the 5th annual 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup. The beverage intelligentsia was brought in to judge the festivities, which included Mark Vaughn, Editor and Publisher of Sante magazine, and celebrity mixologist Brian Van Flanders. Drinks are judged based on execution, flavor, complexity and presentation.

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The professional hooch dispensers who dared show were told to bring their coup de grace drinks with them, specialty mixes that would put them over the top. A roundup:

Duane Fernandez Jr., Soho Grand, “42BELOW Iced Tea”
Lisa Hare, Elizabeth, “The Otter Popped”
Ken Lauro, Mighty Joe Young’s, “42 Pineapple Parallel”
Jamie S. Lewis, Nelson Blue, “Kiwi Summer Breeze”
Brian McGrory, Public, “The Chili Kiwi”
Jason Mendenhall, Revel, “French Daisy”
Sammy Ross, Little Branch, “Fight Path Flip”
Demetrius Saites, Kingswood, “Kiwita”

So who’s the lucky bartender who will be bungee jumping on the backs of kangaroos while eating kiwis in New Zealand? Why, it’s none other than Sammy Ross and his Flight Path Flip! Congratulations Sammy. Yesterday New York, and on September 13th, the world!

Flight Path Flip:

1 oz 42Below Feijoa
1 oz bourbon
1 oz liquor 43
1/2 oz honey
3/4 oz cream
whole egg
3 oz champagne

Sammy Ross and his beloved trophy.

Photos by Adrien Potier