This past Saturday I was honored to judge the Bite of Bend’s Cocktail Competition. The contest was limited to four of Bend’s finest mixologists as they shook, stirred, and blended what they considered their best drink. I judged with Mark Merrick, owner of one of Oregon’s top selling liquor stores and the Number #1 spirits geek I know and Chris Justema, the owner of Cascade Lakes Brewery, who makes one of Bend’s most popular beers Blonde Bombshell.
Brad Irwin took top honors with his Marion berry Slurry.
Marionberry Slurry
4-5 marionberries
1 sugar cube
2 shakes Angostura bitters
juice from 1/4 of a muddled lemon
2 oz Aviation Gin
1 oz Benedictine
1 oz Clear Creek Kirschwasser
2 oz pineapple juice
Garnish: One Asian Pear cut as a butterfly
Shake and serve in a cocktail glass
Irwin’s drink was perfectly balanced, textured, and gorgeous.
It was also an exciting week for Irwin as he is launching his own distillery, Oregon Spirits Distillers, this year and the first batch of vodka is ready to be approved and labeled. It is a wheat vodka and they do the mash, fermenting, and distilling in their little distillery right here in Bend. Irwin is hoping it will be to market by the end of July. They are also working on an absinthe, a berry liqueur, and a whiskey (although that is many years out).
Congratulations Brad!!!!!!