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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/524520
www.cheersonline.com 9 June 2015 • DRINK CULTURE BEST-SELLING CRAFT BEER BRANDS BROOKLYN BARTENDER WINS CASAMIGOS COCKTAIL CONTEST Mixologist Meaghan Montagano from Extra Fancy in Brooklyn, NY, has emerged as the 2015 Star of the Bar, a national cocktail competition hosted by the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and BAR (Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants) event at the NRA Show in Chicago. Montagano's Banana Danza cocktail featured Casamigos anejo tequila with banana du bresil, dry curacao, lemon juice and chocolate bitters, garnished with microplaned chocolate and nasturtium fl owers. Six regional fi nalists from cities across the country competed during the BAR program. The fi nal three mixologists—Montagano, Elmer Mijanicanos of San Francisco's Tony's Pizza Neapolitana and Madison Burch of Atlanta's Seven Lamps—were chosen by BAR guests on May 17 and went on to the fi nal competition at the Restaurants Rock party that night. The live event, held at the House of Blues Chicago, was emceed by chef and television per- sonality Geoffrey Zakarian. The drink contenders were judged by chef Maneet Chauhan, mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and Eater Chicago editor Daniel Gerzina. In addition to bragging rights and the Star of the Bar title for the year, Montagano received with a $5,000 check for her winning cocktail recipe, below. (For more on the NRA's BAR event, see page 12.) BANANA DANZA 2 oz. Casamigos anejo tequila 1 oz. Banana du bresil ¾ oz. Dry curacao ½ oz. Fresh lemon juice 3 dashes Chocolate bitters Combine ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with micro- planed chocolate and nasturtium fl owers. 2014 Rank Brand Share 1 Blue Moon 27.3% 2 Samuel Adams 26.5% 3 Sierra Nevada 12.8% 4 Dogfi sh Head 7.5% 5 Shock Top 4.7% 6 Magic Hat 2.1% 7 Samuel Adams Seasonal 1.8% 8 Redhook 1.5% 9 Victory Lager 1.5% 10 Stone 1.2% BEST SELLING CRAFT BEER BRANDS OVERALL Blue Moon has narrowly surpassed Boston Beer Co.'s Samuel Adams as the overall best-selling craft beer brand, according to the latest OnTrac survey of on-premise operators from The Beverage Information & Insights Group (the research unit of Cheers' parent company). Blue Moon, a Belgian- style witbier, is a MillerCoors brand. Other craft brands new to the top-10 list in 2014 include Lagunitas, Dogfi sh Head, Summit and Anchor Steam. For more information about OnTrac and additional beverage alco- hol industry data from the Beverage Information & Insights Group, visit www.albevresearch.com and www. bevinfostorecom. Source: 2014 OnTrac Survey Geoffrey Zakarian, left and the Star of the Bar winner Meaghan Montagano.