The Virginia Cocktail Games
Cheers to an incredible competition!
The Virginia Cocktail Games, a competition celebrating Virginia’s mixology community and local distilleries, was a resounding success. After advancing through a competitive submission process, we selected 25 talented bartenders to take center stage, each presenting a unique craft cocktail that showcases a Virginia-made spirit and embodies Olympic greatness. From July 26 to August 11, Virginia’s cocktail enthusiasts voted for their favorite competitors, helping us name a finalist from each of the five regions.
Digital, Regional Round 1 Results
Henry Hill Jr., Bartender from Hotel Roanoke, Wins Inaugural Virginia Cocktail Games
On September 14, our five finalists brought their all to the final round of The Virginia Cocktail Games, each presenting a cocktail that embodies why they “Choose Virginia” at Virginia Distilled, our featured Virginia Spirits Month event. After a thorough judging process and a public voting round, we are thrilled to congratulate Henry Hill Jr., who took home gold with his cocktail “No Place Like Home,” featuring Brady’s Distillery Prohibition Gin and Cirrus Vodka.
Final Cocktail Recipes
No Place Like Home, by Henry Hill Jr.
- 1 oz Cirrus Vodka
- 0.5 oz Brady’s Prohibition Gin
- 1 oz aquafaba (optional)
- 1 oz spiced peach rosemary syrup
- 0.5 oz hibiscus tea
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Rheda’s Longing Mead from Atheling Meadworks
Paper Trail, by Melanie Holmes
- 0.75 oz Trail Whiskey by Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery
- 0.75 oz Italian-style aperitivo (like Aperol)
- 0.75 oz amaro (like Amaro nonino Quintessentia)
- 0.75 oz tarragon apple citrus shrub
Bad Apple, by Julieta Hernandez
- 1.5 oz Mt. Defiance Blue Agave Spirit
- 1 oz Pommeau
- 0.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 0.25 oz Apple Black Pepper Syrup
- several dashes aromatic bitters
Grande Dame, by Amanda Liebrich
- 1.5 oz Watershed Gin by Catoctin Creek Distilling Co.
- 0.5 oz Straight Apple Brandy Bottled in Bond by Laird & Company
- 1 oz fig walnut orgeat
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 spritz magnolia essence
Sun & Soil, by Breannah Carr
- 1.5 oz dill-infused Strange Monkey Gin by Silverback Distillery
- 0.5 oz Fox Field Barrel-Aged Vixen Gin by Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co.
- 0.75 oz dry vermouth
- 1 oz Sungold tomato & basil shrub
- 6 drops of Spicy pepper tincture
- 1-2 dashes celery bitters