Competition Winner - Ryan Minnick

Based out of Bethany Blues in Lewes, Delaware,

bartender Ryan Minnick is a long-time fan of Sagamore Spirit whiskey. Minnick’s creativity behind the bar has led him along his impressive career.

Minnick recently competed in the Sagamore Spirit Cocktail Showdown, making it to the finals with his cocktail, The Nobleman. Last year, Minnick won the People’s Choice award in the Sagamore Spirit Kitchen Cocktail Showdown. Additionally, his use of Sagamore Spirit in his bar program at Bethany Blues has gotten attention for both his skill and the brand itself.

Along with developing a range of cocktails for a Sagamore Spirit pairing dinner hosted at Bethany Blues, the bartender developed a unique cocktail program. Using several 10-liter barrels from the Sagamore Spirit Distillery, Minnick began crafting barrel aged cocktails. Using bourbon and rye as the base, Minnick adds ingredients like smoked blackberries and jalapeños to age for anywhere from three to six months.

Minnick’s creativity and breadth of experience with Sagamore Spirit gave him an edge when creating his latest cocktail, The Meddler, for his back-to-back win at the War at the Shore Bartending Competition held annually at Bethany Blues in Lewes, Delaware. “I enjoy Sagamore Spirit, it’s east coast hooch. Not too far from home, and it’s a very versatile whiskey,” Minnick explains. “It’s a great product to use while I express my creativity through cocktail.” While Minnick usually enjoys his Sagamore Spirit neat or with a rock, he shared that he enjoys experimenting with various ways to serve the spirit while still letting it shine through.

GET TO Know BARTENDER Ryan Minnick

By Mary Kate Patterson | Photos by Sebastian Marin

The Nobleman

Ingredients

2 ½ oz. Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey ½ oz. Allspice Dram ¼ oz. Yellow Chartreuse 2 dashes Black Walnut Bitters 2 dashes Ancient Trade Bitters Lemon Peel & Smoked Luxardo Cherry for Garnish

Preparation

Add ice to a coupe glass to chill it. Add ice to a mixing glass. Measure all ingredients into the mixing glass and stir. Double-strain cocktail into the coupe glass. Spear the lemon peel and smoked cherry on a cocktail stick and place in the glass to garnish.