Juan Anthony Sanes, center, cheers after clinching the title of Iron Bartender Saturday night at the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery on St. Croix. Kyle Colantuoni, left, took second place. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Some of the island’s top bartenders came together Saturday night at the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery on St. Croix for Rotary Mid-Isle’s “Iron Bartender” competition.
Willard John emcees the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Tammy DeRuyter, right, and Mike DeRuyter, center, sample a cocktail by Amanda Mateja, left, during the first round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
The evening started with 10 talented mixologists showing off their signature creations in the opening round. By popular vote, Amanda Mateja, Kyle Colantuoni, Juan Anthony Sanes and Chanel Aubert advanced to a second round where they were required to use an array of predetermined ingredients. The remaining six — Kealoni “KJ” Richards, Cecily Lawrence, Jerome Xavier Minto, Jahmani Johnson, Amber Wyse and Rasheda Bell — were given a second shot at prize money in a “spirit-free” round.
Kealoni “KJ” Richards hands out samples of his “Golden Caribbean Elixir” during the opening round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Chanel Aubert pours a concoction during the opening round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Cecily Lawrence presents a rosemary-infused paloma during the first round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Chanel Aubert, left, Kyle Colantuoni, center, and Amanda Mateja, right, study the ingredients they’ll be using after advancing to the second round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night at the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Amanda Mateja puts on a show during the second round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
The final round pitted Colantuoni against Sanes, and the pair had to wow judges Rob Husted, Carl Summa and Edgar Bengoa with a cocktail featuring bush tea and jackfruit. Sanes took home the top prize of $3,000 — and the coveted title of Iron Bartender — with a drink he later dubbed the “Jack in the Box.”
Iron Bartender judges Rob Husted, right, Carl Summa, center, and Edgar Bengoa, left, sample the evening’s final two cocktails Saturday night at the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Kyle Colantuoni locks in during the final round of the Iron Bartender competition Saturday night on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
“I’ve never tasted jackfruit before, so immediately, the first thing I did was go in and smell it,” Sanes said. “I tried to get the notes and the hints — it gave me coconut, it gave me vanilla, and that’s exactly what I put in there. I also added some fresh mint, slapped it, shook it up, served it out, and the judges happened to like it.”
A “Velvet Passion” prepared by Juan Anthony Sanes includes lemongrass seed, passion fruit juice, sorrel, simple syrup and Ketel One Vodka. Source photo by Kit MacAvoy.
As the runner-up, Colantuoni took home $1,000 and Richards came away with $500 for winning the mocktail contest. Husted, a world-renowned flair bartender and educator, said the judges were looking for several things on Saturday night.
“Taste, aroma, presentation. What does a cocktail look like? The bartending skills — while they’re actually making the cocktail, are they spilling? Are they rushing through it, or are they calm, cool, collected and a master of their tools,” he said. “And the biggest thing we always ask ourselves as judges is, would I order this cocktail again?”
Rasheda Bell prepared “Sunset on the Tropics” for the opening round of the Iron Bartender competition, a cocktail comprising apple and melon vodka, passion fruit puree, lemonade and grenadine. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Despite the night’s competitive flavor, Aubert had nothing but positive things to say about her fellow contestants.
“It’s really, really interesting,” she said. “Everyone expresses themselves so creatively through their drinks, and I just think that there’s a certain community to be found in that.”
