The vibrant spirit of community and creativity took center stage on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge as top bars clashed in the inaugural “Battle of the Bartenders” on June 24.
The Merchants of Third Avenue — one of the neighborhood’s small business support groups — brought seven local bars together for the unique cocktail competition. During the contest, each representing mixologist was tasked with creating a vodka-based drink called The Merchant — all in the name of fundraising for the thoroughfare.
The match was the brainchild of Chrisie Canny, events coordinator for The Merchants of Third Avenue. Canny told Brooklyn Paper that she was thinking of creative ways to celebrate the neighborhood’s food and beverage industry, which led to her corralling local barkeeps.
“I thought ‘Let’s do something with the bartenders,” she said. “It took a little convincing, but at the end, we had seven bars participating.”
During the event, held outside the Wicked Monk, attendees got to try all seven of the mixes and vote for their favorites. As they made their way through the night, their drinks were marked off like a scavenger hunt.
Meanwhile, three judges witnessed each bartender’s creation being crafted fresh, just for them. Presentation was a crucial factor in the judging process, with participants getting creative with garnishes and glassware. Bartenders from the Monk, Kettle Black, Ho’Brah, Pipin’s Pub, Cebu Bar & Bistro, Pour House and Malone’s Chop House showed off their stuff.
Malone’s took home the top prize, while Cebu won over attendees’ hearts with the People’s Choice award. The results will be etched onto a trophy, which Canny said will be passed down from year to year as part of an ongoing tradition.
The event’s true winner, however, is the Bay Ridge community. Funds raised will support ongoing beautification efforts, including clean-up initiatives and tree-planting projects.
“We’re trying to change habits,” Canny said. “We want people to reinvest in their neighborhood and care about where they live.”
With its rich history and diversity of businesses, Canny hopes Third Avenue can slowly return to its former glory.
“In the nineties, there was a line outside every bar and restaurant,” she told Brooklyn Paper, adding that the event’s success is already paving the way for future collaborations between local businesses and residents. “We’re trying to bring that back.”
