08 Apr MINNICK PLACES 8TH IN NATIONWIDE COMPETITION
Bethany Blues of Lewes is proud to announce that their own in-house mixologist, Ryan Minnick placed 8th in a National Bartending Competition sponsored by Dos Hombres Mezcal. Over 40,000 mixologists competed in the national fundraising event hosted by Dos Hombres, founded by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. The competition was in partnership with the Kind Campaign, a globally recognized non-profit that raises awareness and seeks to heal the wounds caused by girl on girl bullying within schools.
Minnick, who has three children of his own, says, “This cause is dear to me because of my role as a father, and so this was a chance to raise money and compete as a bartender, which is something I also really enjoy.”
If you know Minnick’s penchant for flavor, this will come as no surprise. Minnick has been curating delicious cocktails at Blues for years with his barrel aging cocktail program, and has come out with impressive drinks that pack tons of nuance into a single sip. Being on the national stage at the helm of a fundraiser was new territory for Minnick, and he rose to the occasion with not only his high placement, but his overall showing in the fundraising.
The bartenders and mixologists who entered were tasked with a number of efforts around the competition including attending workshops, designing their own logos, creating signature drinks, marketing their craft, and of course, fundraising. Minnick’s cocktail was called “Fight or Flight” and it paid tribute to the anti-bullying Kind Campaign by using their logo colors as inspiration. His drink included Dos Hombres mezcal, hibiscus cane syrup, grilled pineapple, habanero chili bitters, egg white, and black volcanic sea salt.
After creating the “Fight or Flight” cocktail, Minnick’s placement rested on people voting for his drink. Voters had two options: they were able to cast their vote once every 24 hours for free, and could also “donate” votes, by making tax deductible contributions through the website. Minnick raised an astounding $14K for the Kind Campaign, and ultimately placed 8th in the country. This accomplishment cannot be overstated, as some of the bartenders he was up against were from big cities with large populations, nationwide, and he was doing this all from the heart of Sussex County in the dead of winter.
Jessica Nathan, Director of Operations for the Lewes location is really proud of Minnick. She says, “This contest speaks to Ryan’s mixologist skill set and overall great personality behind the bar. He loves what he does, and enjoys bringing new creations to as many people as he can, so social media is right up his alley! We are so proud that he is one of our own and he hopes he and the rest of our bar team continue to thrive with experiences like this at Blues!”
Minnick’s signature cocktail that he created for the competition is now available to the public at Bethany Blues’ Lewes location, as well as at Stingray’s in Rehoboth Beach. Don’t miss the opportunity to get your taste buds on a truly delicious drink that rose to great heights nationally!!
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