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Vince Martinez of Maloney’s Tavern nabbed first place at the Hpnotiq bartender competition Tuesday night at Suite Two Hundred, beating out eight other local bartenders. Each had to create a drink that featured Hpnotiq, a liqueur made from a blend of vodka, cognac and tropical fruit juices.
Martinez got top scores in creativity, presentation, technique and overall taste with his Notiq Rupture concoction.
Here’s the winning recipe: 1.5 oz. Hpnotiq, 3/4 oz. raspberry vodka, fresh muddled pineapple, 3 oz. basil seed juice, served on ice in a tall Gibraltar glass and garnished with three Gushers.
The basil seed juice created a layer of tiny, gelatinous balls at the bottom of the glass, and the Gushers candies garnish was another winning touch.
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Deidre Sappington of LoHi SteakBar came in second with her Hyp-Monkey, a variation on a banana daiquiri made with Hpnotiq, fresh muddled bananas, simple syrup, rum lime juice and Grand Marnier.
Alli Powell, a bartender from 5 Degrees, came in third but was a crowd favorite with her Smurf Berry Shot that included Hpnotiq, a splash of pineapple juice, a splash of Blue Caracao and Raspberry Pucker at the bottom.
