Kansas City Bartending Competition - TONIGHT!

Thirsty? After listening to the drink that finalist Beau Williams is going to make tonight, you can't tell me you aren't ready for a little liquid libation. Oh, come on. It's the weekend before Thanksgiving and if you are working at all this week, you know it is going to be a light week. Which means, if you love craft cocktails, you have no excuse not to be at the Uptown Theater tonight for the Kansas City Bartending Competition. Event starts at 6:00 pm and tickets are only $5 through Ticketmaster, or at the Uptown Ticket window, with all the proceeds go to the HALO Foundation.

I have been attending the Kansas City Bartending Competition almost since it's creation. Unfortunately, I missed the first year when Beau Williams, now at Manifesto, won the competition. What I remember was hearing after year one, from people in the restaurant and bar business, was that this is a serious competition. I also heard it is considered a serious honor to win. It earns you major street cred among your peers, but more important to us lay people outside the circle, it tells us who in this town can really make a mean cocktail.

Let's be honest. When you find yourself in need of a cocktail to help relax you into your evening, to wash away your blues, or just to be social - you want it, no, you NEED it to hit the mark. That takes a bartender that is knowledgeable beyond the "Bartender's Guide to the Galaxy" book hidden beside the cash register at the bar. It takes someone who takes the time to get to know you, and can almost, just by the look of you, tell you the drink you SHOULD be having, and has the skills to create it before your eyes.

That's the level of talent that will be creating one unique cocktail and one classic cocktail (the judges will choose for them) for a chance to earn the highest bartending honor in these parts. This event is the heart and soul of the revival of the craft cocktail movement in Kansas City. It honors those who have come before and those who are taking things, as Beau said in his video "to a whole new level."

The brainchild of Ryan Maybee, the king of craft cocktails in Kansas City, this is a once a year opportunity to watch the best bartending talent in the city come together in a healthy competition to see who has the right stuff. It's a honor to make it into the competition as a finalist, but it is even better to be the winner with prize money and your cocktail recipe printed in Cheers Magazine.

The finalist competing in tonight are:

• Jennifer Tosatto

  Currently Working at: Double T’s Roadhouse | Watch Video

• Heather Searls

  Currently Working at: Topshelf @ The Gusto Lounge & The Brick | Watch Video

• Van Zarr

  Currently Working at: Bluestem | Watch Video

• Christopher Conatser

  Currently Working at: Justus Drugstore | Watch Video

• Anthony “Tony” Beyer

  Currently Working at: Benton’s Steak & Chop House | Watch Video

• Shawn Moriarty

  Currently Working at: R Bar & Restaurant | Watch Video

• Arturo A. Vera-Felicie

  Currently Working at: R Bar & Restaurant & 1924 Main | Watch Video

• Jaci Shelby

  Currently Working at: Kennedy’s Bar & Grill | Watch Video

• Ryan Rama

  Currently Working at: Extra Virgin | Watch Video

• Beau Williams

  Currently Working at: Manifesto | Watch Video

• Missy Koonce

  Currently Working at: The Piano Room | Watch Video

If you see someone on this list that you have enjoyed a cocktail of their creation, then come to the Uptown tonight to cheer them on. If you are interested in learning more about any of these bartenders, then you should come and help us judge the winner of this year's competition. 

Speaking of the judges . . . after years of sitting in the dark of the Uptown Theater and watching this city's finest make some of the most mouth-watering cocktails, I have been asked to join David Wondrich, Ryan Maybee, Doug Frost and Katie VanLuchene at the judges table. So, please stop by, I'd love to know which bartender you are cheering on tonight.

Finally, if for no other reason . . .you should come to this competition if you want a good drink in this town. You know the best way to get a good drink, don't you? Get to know the bartender. I'm just sayin'.

Comments

[Dustin]

Awesome post! With content like this, you could take your site commercial and bring it to the masses.