Eight contenders, four finalists, one Best Bartender 2015. After tallying your online votes as well as judges’ scores and on-site votes at our sold-out Final Shakedown event at Untitled on Tuesday night, Dan Rook of South Water Kitchen in the Loop took home the title.
“I started feeling like, ‘Oh my God, I might be able to win this,’ when I heard everyone screaming for me, but I was totally surprised. This whole thing has been a surprise,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of this because I think it speaks to this growing movement toward people actually caring about the liquid put in front of them and the drinks they’re having. … I’m humbled by the whole thing.”
Congrats to finalists Tommy Lansaw of Wood, Dianna Sanders
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of The Promontory and Manny Sofios of RPM Steak and Slippery Slope who shook up their signature cocktails alongside Rook at the event. Our first-round contenders for this year’s project also deserve a shoutout: Lailaw Taherzadeh of Maude’s Liquor Bar, Harrison Ginsberg of The Dawson, Kristina Magro of Fulton Market Kitchen and Bordel, and Danielle Lewis of GT Fish & Oyster.A special thanks to past Best Bartender finalists Briar Brackney, Tony Potempa and Jennifer Contraveos, who served as guest judges, plus 2014 winner Carlos Matias and 2013 winner Meg Silvas, who made an appearance to present this year’s title.
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