Back for its fifth season, Speed Rack continued its competition tour with a stop at Seattle’s Neumo’s. Founded by savvy bartenderesses Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, this all-female speed-bartending competition raises money for breast cancer education, prevention and research all while shining a spotlight on women behind the bar. The concept was to create a cocktail competition for women; created, celebrated and supported by women. In the first year, Speed Rack saw 200-plus bartenders across the country and raised more than $69,000.
This last Sunday, competitors from Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles were pitted against each other in a round-robin style mix-off for a chance in the Grand Finals, where the winner will be crowned Miss Speed Rack USA. And let me tell you, this is a party! While the ladies are shaking, it the crowd of cocktail-loving industry and consumers was going wild, cheering on their favorites.
For me, I was thrilled to be back at the judges table for another year of Speed Rack. It was a fun and boozy day of judging, and this year, the ladies brought their game to an epic new level. Competitors were judged not only for speed, but for the balance of flavors, cocktail knowledge and overall skill.
The competition was fierce with the final round staying in the Seattle family, with Canon’s Haley Holman against Rumba’s Kate Perry… but only one was crowned the 2016 Northwest Speed Rack champion and the title goes to Holman! Catch her at Canon, one of Seattle’s premier brown liquor-specialist establishments, to test out her skills yourself.
Keep an eye on Speed Rack’s website and Facebook page to cheer Holman along in the National Finals for this season, which will be held on Sunday, May 22 at Webster Hall in New York.
