Bartenders mix up ‘patriotic’ cocktails

Bartenders rolled up their sleeves at the National Archives Museum on Wednesday night to show their patriotism and whip up some tasty cocktails.

The National Archives Foundation and the Tasting Panel hosted “A Patriotic Cocktail Competition,” an event showcasing the talents of seven bartenders from across the nation.

The contest came down to four categories: “patriotism, originality, appearance, and taste,” according to a host.

{mosads}“[The cocktail] should taste American,” said Duane Sylvestre, who judged the competition.

Despite the fierce competition among bartenders, the Archives Foundation’s “Chief Spirits Advisor” and co-emcee Derek Brown praised each of the entrants.

“Each person had their own take on [patriotism] whether that was expressing it through the color of the drink or expressing it through some kind of story that they had, that expressed patriotism to them,” he said.

Winner Nick Maziejka crafted his holiday themed drink using Bird Dog Whiskey, coining it, “Red, White, and Fun.”

“On the Fourth of July – most people usually kind of put aside whatever’s bothering them and work things out — they have fun, they’re blowing up stuff, getting drunk. So for one day out of the year it’s like one nation under fun,” he said.

Maziejka explained that the inspiration for the cocktail derived from the nation’s past and “melting pot” culture. He said he strived to “assimilate as many things as I could into one drink as possible.”

Co-host Allen Katz of Southern Wine and Spirits, a distributor, and judge Meridith May of The Tasting Panel praised Maziejka for his winning creation.

“I did taste the winning cocktail, and I thought it was a delicious drink,” Katz said.

Brown summed up the night’s patriotic theme by noting the history of cocktails.

“I think that one of the great things is that the cocktail itself is an American creation. In many ways it’s hard not to make it patriotic,” Brown said.

“You can make a cocktail in Europe, or you can make a cocktail in Africa, or you can make a cocktail in Asia, but it still harkens back to American cocktail, so it’s something that we can all feel proud of.”