Bartender Submissions

Natalia Olenicoff & Michelle Botta

Natalia Olenicoff and her brother Andrei dreamed of opening a restaurant featuring locally sourced products. After he passed away in 2005, Natalia made that dream a reality by opening Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails in his memory. Natalia was always passionate about spirits and creative concoctions and was constantly dismayed by the syrupy sweet recipes she found at most restaurants and bars. “When I set out to create Andrei’s cocktail menu, I wanted to provide a variety of flavors while at the same time cutting out the artificial and overpowering sweetness in most drinks. One of the most consistent comments we receive from guests is that they love our cocktails because they’re not only delicious, but they also feel healthy. I can’t say that they’re hangoverproof, but at least they’re all natural!”

Michelle Botta has been mixing for over 15 years. She adds, “Along side Natalia, I have the opportunity to combine so many delicious and unique ingredients when creating our specialty drinks, like our signature Blackberry Cooler. Inventive cocktails really enhance the experience for our guests.”

Blackberry Cooler

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 oz. Absolut Raspberri 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice 1/4 oz. Agave Nectar

Pinch of Basil Leaves 3 Blackberries

Splash of Ginger Ale

PREPARATION Squeeze lemons and muddle agave, blackberries and basil in tin. Add ice and vodka. Shake, pour and top with Ginger Ale.

Captain Morgan’s best tasting bite is revealed. The best-tasting lime-flavored rum cocktail in the nation is let loose. Check out the top bartenders and their winning cocktails. Mix them up for yourself and experience a taste that is undeniably BITE-a-licious!

JEREMY NELSON - MADISON, WISCONSIN

Why the Battle of the Bite? The Captain made me do it.

Where do you start when creating a new drink? I start with a specific flavor in mind, usually based on a kind of food, then I experiment until I find the exact flavor that I am looking for.

How did you arrive at your winning recipe? I started to think of cocktails that use lime and lime juice in the recipe and margarita’s came to mind first. Then adding strawberry worked best.

What’s your favorite thing about

bartending? I really feel like I’ve done my job when I create a cocktail for someone who doesn’t know what they want and then they love it and continue to order it on a regular basis.

Bartending school or real

world experience? I never went to bartending school. I picked up bartending as a part-time gig and it turned into a long-term thing for me. I do have plans to return to school for better knowledge and experience though.

BEST COCKTAIL

LIME BITE-A-RITA

INGREDIENTS

1 oz. Captain Morgan Lime Bite 1/2 oz. Triple Sec 3/4 oz. Sour Mix 1 oz. Strawberry Margarita Mix 1/2 oz. limejuice Lime garnish Sugar for rim

PREPARATION

Pour ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake until ingredients are well mixed and chilled. Rim glass with sugar. Pour into serving glass and garnish with a lime.

Describe Captain Morgan’s Lime Bite in one word.

Wicked.

CAPTAIN'S SWEET HEAT BITE

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Lime Bite 3 tsp. Watermelon Spirit Twister® 3.5 oz. Blenheim Ginger Ale 1/4 fresh jalapeno (seeded/deveined) 5 one inch cubes of watermelon

PREPARATION

Cut watermelon into one inch cubes. Cut fresh jalapeno into fourths. Muddle watermelon, jalapeno, and basil in a shaker. Add Captain Lime Bite, Spirit Twisters to shaker and serve over ice.

THE KEY LIME PIE-RATE

INGREDIENTS

1 oz. Captain Morgan Lime Bite 3/4 oz. Simple Syrup 1/2 oz. Pear Nectar 1 oz. Pineapple Juice Splash of Lime Juice

PREPARATION

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Sugar a martini glass rim and strain into the glass. Garnish with lime.

Where do you start when

creating a new drink? I always try something new that you can’t get everywhere, something that will make people say, “Wow!”

How did you arrive at your Lime

Bite recipe? While working as the resident mixologist for Spirit Twisters, I’ve had the opportunity to experiment with all kinds of flavor combination. Using fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables has opened up a whole new spectrum for mixology. For this drink, I wanted to create a refreshing cocktail with a taste as wild as Lime Bite.

Any mixology tips you’d like to share?

You won’t always create great tasting cocktails on your first attempt. But don’t give up and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Creativity is key.

JAY VITI - MASSACHUSETTS

How did you arrive at your Lime Bite recipe?

Lime Bite immediately reminded me of Key Lime Pie so I ran with it.

Any mixology tips you’d like to share?

Less is more. Utilize the flavor profiles of the spirits you’re working with and don’t try to stray too far from your roots.

Bartending school or real world experience?

Real world, definitely. Bartending school is great for learning the basics but no school can prepare you for a night of three deep droves of thirsty consumers.

Anything new you’re excited about?

Working with Captain Morgan

Spiced Rum to create new cocktails.

The mixing possibilities with Captain

Morgan’s and products like elderflower liqueur seem to be endless.

Also, having the Stanley Cup back in Boston has been exciting.