Amy Krzanik reports from Pittsfield. It was an evening of stiff drinks and even stiffer competition as the first-ever Farm-to-glass Throwdown on Sunday, Nov. 7 pitted some of the Berkshires’ best bartenders against each other to see who could craft the finest cocktail. The fundraiser for the new Downtown Pittsfield Winter Farmers Market was held upstairs at Hotel on North. Competitors included Johnny Burns from Methuselah Bar and Lounge; Ashley Junod from Brava Lenox; Meghan Merrigan from District Kitchen & Bar; Kristen Parker from Dream Away Lodge; Billy Paul from allium restaurant and bar; and Joseph Scully from Prairie Whale. Contestants picked their poisons from a list of ingredients found at the farmers market and liquors from co-sponsor Berkshire Mountain Distillers. Their concoctions were judged by Mitch and Seth Nash of Blue Q; Nathan Hanford, an artist with Soldier On; Caitlin Harrison from Mise Wines; Waterfall Perry of Jan Perry Realty; and Nancy Thomas, co-owner of Mezze Restaurant Group. Paul, Scully and Parker (whose drink, "The Dodo," won the “people’s choice award"), continued on to round two, where they had mere minutes to create a drink using a surprise ingredient. The creative use of that ingredient, elderflower jam, made Scully a champion. The winter farmers market begins this Saturday and will run the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club. Above, market committee chair Regina Burgio and market manager Jess Conzo.
Competitor Kristen Parker with Dream Away Lodge owner Daniel Osman, Ashley Junod and industrial engineer DJ Junod; Throwdown winner Joe Scully with Berkshire Mountain Distillers' Chris Weld.
Tristan Vogel and Dawn Philip; Jaime Weyers, Quincey Sobczyk and Rachel Parzick.
Rachel Plaine, Leah Parker, Alex Groff and Andrew Groff; Sam Russo and Eamonn Barry.
George Whaling and Jennifer Galvagni; Erin Merrigan and North Adams City Councilor Kate Merrigan showed up to support their sister, Meghan.
Holly Viola and Daniel Putignano; Johnny Burns, bartender extraordinaire.
Meghan Merrigan entertained the crowd while mixing; The Nash brothers judge away.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
