Mix Masters Stir it Up in Cocktail Contest

Bartending is a serious business—just ask the four finalists at the US Bartenders’ Guild National Cocktail Competition held in Chicago this year. All four "mixologists" suffered stage fright while preparing their signature drinks for the judge, reports Gourmet. Despite sweating buckets, Las Vegas native Anthony Alba took first for his Big Easy cocktail, garnished with a smoking cumquat.

Each contestant had just seven minutes to impress the judge as the host and audience egged them on. The runner up lost points for a last-minute spill, while another bartender came in last for missing the deadline by a mere seven seconds. "I'm just glad it's over," said one.
(More gourmet stories.)