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Best Martini in the 'Burbs 2019

Welcome to the Best Martini in the 'Burbs Challenge, where local bartenders compete to give their signature cocktail the title of Best Martini in the 'Burbs.

To be included in the challenge, bartenders submit their signature Grey Goose martini and the public votes for who they want to see compete at the live mix-off at Drink Nightclub. The top bartenders compete in the live competition and are judged on their mixing skills/tricks, presentation, and flavor.

At the live mix-off, guests get to enjoy martini samples, music, complimentary food provided by Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzeria, and a raffle with proceeds benefiting Woodfield Area Children's Organization (WACO), while watching the bartenders compete.

The 2019 Best Martini in the 'Burbs goes to #IDKSurpriseMe!

Graham Essex, of Northcott Liquorette in Naperville, prepares his winning martini at the Daily Herald Best Martini in the 'Burbs challenge. The cocktail called #IDKSurpriseMe is a concoction of Grey Goose vodka, lemon juice, Aperol, passion fruit syrup and cinnamon syrup with a spritz of Peychaud's bitters infused with silver pearl dust to give it a luminescent finish. (Jim Baumann | Staff Photographer)

The cocktail's creator, Graham Essex, said "It was a dealer's choice," who tends bar at Northcott Liquorette in Naperville. "And this is basically what I came up with that night." Essex's cocktail, aptly called #IDKSurpriseMe, was a concoction of Grey Goose vodka, lemon juice, Aperol, passion fruit syrup and cinnamon syrup with a spritz of Peychaud's bitters infused with silver pearl dust to give it a luminescent finish.

His dealer's choice earned him a first-place finish Monday night at the Daily Herald's ninth annual Best Martini in the 'Burbs Contest.

#IDKSurpriseMe is a concoction of Grey Goose vodka, lemon juice, Aperol, passion fruit syrup and cinnamon syrup with a spritz of Peychaud's bitters infused with silver pearl dust to give it a luminescent finish.

The fan favorite award went to Andreas Vlahos from Jameson's Charhouse in Arlington Heights for his Deep Blue Water martini.

DEEP BLUE WATER was voted the fan favorite by guests attending the Best Martini in the 'Burbs Challenge.

Coming in second place in the judged contest was Paul Wagner. He might have been the happiest bartender in the competition. As beverage director at Northcott Liquorette, he trained both Essex and third-place finisher Kenneth Burton, who works at Fiamme in Naperville.

Kenneth Burton, left, from Fiamme in Naperville, celebrates with Graham Essex, center, and Paul Wagner, both of Northcott Liquorette in Naperville, after the Daily Herald Best Martini in the 'Burbs challenge. Wagner came in second place and trained both Essex (first place) and Burton (third). (Jim Baumann | Staff Photographer)

"My grandma was a French chef," he said. "I started in the business when I was 13. I learned early on that everything starts with scent and taste."

All three top finishers in the judging had elaborate recipes: Wagner's and Burton's were shaken with egg white to give it a smooth finish. Wagner's even employed activated charcoal, which gave it a deep lavender hue.

"And it's also a detoxifying agent," he said. "It helps get rid of those hangovers the next day."

2019 BEST MARTINI IN THE 'BURBS COMPETING MARTINIS

First Place: #IDKSurpriseMe

Bartender: Graham Essex from Northcott Liquorette located in Naperville.

Second Place: #NotTooSweet

Bartender: Paul Wagner from Northcott Liquorette located in Chicago

Third Place: Elixir d'Hibiscus

Bartender: Kenneth Burton from Fiammé located located in Naperville.

Fan Favorite: DEEP BLUE WATER

Bartender: Andreas Vlahos from Jameson's Charhouse located in Arlington Heights

M3 - Malted Milkball Martini

Bartender: Christian Schmidling from Chicago Prime Italian located in Schaumburg.

The Royal Brew

Bartender: Tina Bonadonna from Kings Dining & Entertainment in Rosemont.

Melon Eclipse

Bartender: Adam Wanaski from Moretti's located in Hoffman Estates

Meet Me Under the Mistle Toe

Bartender: Stephanie Lotz from Rackhouse Kitchen & Tavern

A Hot Mint Cranberry

Bartender: Joshua Olson from Chicago Prime Steakhouse located in Schaumburg

Created By
Katrin Polomsky
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