Big thank you as well to the sponsors of the event; Copper And Kings Amerian Craft Brandy Co, Kater Wingman Water, Chaser, Mover & Shaker Co and Willis Show Bar. 

Best Whiskey Program
– The Sugar House

Best Wine Program
– The Royce

Best High Volume Bar
– The Skip

Best Beer Program
– One-Eyed Betty’s 

Best Beverage Rep
– Laura O’Reilly

Best Cicerone
– Zach Typinski

Best International or National Brand Launch
– Glennfiddich Fire & Cane

Best Michigan Brand Launch
– Norden Aquavit

Best Beverage Event
– Detroit Cocktail Classic

Best Retail Venue
– Kako’s Market

Best Sommelier
– Liz Martinez

Distillery of the Year
– Long Road Distillers

Best Craft Bar
– The Standby

Best Bartender
– Will Lee 

What a great event. Should we do it again next year? 

The post Golden Jigger Awards 2018 Recap appeared first on Nick Drinks.

Nick Drinks is pleased to announce the launch of the Golden Jigger Awards. The mission of the awards is to recognize the great work done by Metro Detroit’s Bartenders, Locations, Events and Brands over 2018. It was a great year for the industry and there are far more people responsible for the success of the region. We thank everyone for their hard work.

The awards were nominated by Nick Drinks based on capabilities, knowledge and service. To select the winners, a combination of public vote, experts panel and the Nick Drinks staff will make the final decision.  ​​Voting is live now and will remain open until December 4th, 2018 at midnight. Everyone is welcome to vote once in the public vote. The expert panel is a cross section of the leaders in the industry from food/beverage media and hospitality focused groups:

Brew Export, Butter Run Saloon, Candy Bar, Chartreuse/Oakland, Cocktail Detroit, Daily Detroit, Detour, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Optimist Society, Eater, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, Greater Detroit USBG Board, Grey Ghost, Hungry Dudes, Mabel Gray, Michigan by the Bottle, Michigan Spirits Association, RNDC, Royce, Standby, Take Detroit, Teeqlife, Willis Show Bar & Yelp.

A number of sponsors have helped make this event possible:

• Copper & Kings American Brandy Company is the title sponsor and will be providing both cocktails and presenting the Best Bartender award.
• Käter Wingman Water, a new Michigan company, is sponsoring and will be providing both non-alcoholic refreshments and presenting the Best Craft Cocktail Bar award.
• Chaser Products, a Michigan company, is sponsoring and will be presenting the Best Wine Program award.
• Mover & Shaker Co is sponsoring, developed the logo, provided a custom pin and is presenting an award.
• Willis Show Bar is hosting the event at their beautiful space in Detroit.
• BarProducts.com is providing the Golden Jiggers for the award plaques.
• Men’s Wearhouse is clothing the hosts and has graciously provided a discount for anyone interested in purchasing new suits or renting tuxes.

The categories and nominees are as follows:

• Best Bartender (presented by Copper & Kings American Brandy Company) – Brent Foster, Paul Fradeneck, Yani Moraitis Frye, Tara Jagodinski, Marlowe Johnson, Will Lee, David Miles-Cole Martinez, Kaytee Querro, Katrell Thomas, and Chas Williams
• Best Beer Program – Ale Mary’s Beer Hall, Clubhouse BFD, Hop Cat Detroit, Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop, and One Eyed Betty’s
• Best Beverage Rep – Jaclyn R. Birkholz, Kelly Miller, Laura O’Reilly, Trisha Patterson, and Adil Yamin
• Best Beverage Event – Detroit Cocktail Classic 2018, Detroit Whisky Festival 2018, Pig & Whiskey 2018, Vodka Vodka, and Whisky Experience 2018
• Best Cicerone – Alyson Schramm Naeger, Annette May, Mike Turriff, Zach Typinski, and Bobby Vedder
• Best Craft Cocktail Bar (Presented by Käter Wingman Water) – Bad Luck Bar, Candy Bar, Grey Ghost Detroit, Lady of the House, Mabel Gray, Standby, Sugar House, Takoi, The Oakland, and Willis Show Bar
• Distillery of the Year (presented by Mover & Shaker Co) – Detroit City Distillery, Long Road Distillers, Motor City Gas – Whiskey, Two James Spirits, and Valentine Distilling Co.
• Best High Volume Bar – Second Best Bar, Honest Johns Detroit, The Skip, Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop, and Otus Supply
• Best International/National Brand Launch – Glenfiddich Fire & Cane, Letherbee Line, Maker’s Mark Private Select Program, Treaty Oaks Line, and White Walker by Johnnie Walker
• Best Michigan Brand Launch – DCD Bespoke Bourbon Series, Grey Skies – Straight Bourbon #1, Long Road Distillers Nocino – Batch #2, Norden Aquavit, and Rusted Crow Greystache Liqueur
• Best Retail Venue – 8 Degrees Plato, Holiday Market, Kako’s Market, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe, and The Wine Garden
• Best Sommelier – Gerry Baker, Michael “Mick” Descamps, Mindy Betts Lopus, Liz Martinez, and Madeline Triffon
• Best Whiskey Program – Butter Run Saloon, One Eyed Betty’s, Sugar House, The Oakland, and Townhouse Detroit
• Best Wine Program (Presented by Chaser Products) – Lady of the House, Motor City Wine Bar, Prime & Proper, Shewolf Pastificio & Bar, and The Royce

On December 9th, 2018 at 7pm EST there will be a live awards ceremony at Willis Show Bar in Detroit. Buy tickets here.

Please contact me if you would like to get more information about the event or set-up an interview. nick@nickdrinks.com. Good luck everyone.

The post Golden Jigger Awards 2018 appeared first on Nick Drinks.