The Virginia Cocktail Games

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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.

Regions for The Virginia Cocktail Games (4)
5 finalists of The Virginia Cocktail Games (1)

Digital, Regional Round 1 Results

Out of all 25 cocktail recipes, these five bartenders and their cocktail creations rose to the top, earning gold in round 1:
🥇 Pour l’amour du Gin by Breannah Carr, Devils Backbone Brewing Company | Central Va.
🥇 Ramos à la Mode by Amanda Liebrich, Glass Light Restaurant | Coastal Va.
🥇 Take 5 by Henry Hill Jr., The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center | Western Va.
🥇 The Qualifier (Qualificatif) by Melanie Holmes, The Tavern in Abingdon | Southern Va.
🥇 Victory Coupe, by Julieta Hernandez, The Catamount Lounge | Northern Va.
Meet all 25 Cocktails

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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