{"id":12994,"date":"2013-07-03T18:06:45","date_gmt":"2013-07-04T01:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=12994"},"modified":"2016-06-19T12:28:12","modified_gmt":"2016-06-19T19:28:12","slug":"four-muddled-cocktails-for-your-summer-pleasure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/four-muddled-cocktails-for-your-summer-pleasure\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Muddled Cocktails For Your Summer Pleasure"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

In May, The Bungalow Restaurant<\/a>, a popular Newport Beach area establishment for over sixteen years, invited all local professional and amateur mixologists and home bartenders to submit an original cocktail recipe for their first quarterly cocktail competition. With warm summer months and seasonal produce in mind, recipes were to include a muddling step using seasonal ingredients. Four finalists were selected for the Happy Hour showdown where they created their concoctions for a panel of four judges who named\u00a0a winner based on creativity, unique ingredients and flavor.<\/p>\n

Located on Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, the Bungalow is a favorite of locals and visitors to the area who, if they dropped by last Thursday to wet their whistle with one of the Bungalow’s famous martinis, had a hard time finding a seat or bellying up to the bar as last Thursday’s Summer Muddled Cocktail Contest drew a full house of regulars, cheering friends, and local media. Not one to turn down a cocktail invitation, I was there with \u00a0Terri Williams of Great Taste<\/a> magazine, who joined\u00a0Susan Belknapp of the OC Metro <\/a>and two other Orange County expert tasters front and center for the tough job of judging the creative libations. With iPhone in hand and waning sunlight washing the dimly lit intimate bar area, I wedged my way between onlookers to capture some of the action.<\/p>\n

Benjamin Webb (above), 32, of Corona del Mar, wowed the judges with his mixology chops and the resulting complex flavors in his cocktail: The Mifflin. Here he shows the judges the bottle of BarKeep Fennel Bitters which is the key ingredient in “The Mifflin”. The African basil, which he slaps to wake up the flavors, is from his neighbor’s garden. The drink also features tequila, Yellow Chartreuse, orange liqueur, grapefruit and lime juices. Benjamin garnered first place and went \u00a0home with a $250 gift card.<\/p>\n

\"Bungalow<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Mifflin, 1st place<\/b><\/p>\n

Recipe by Benjamin Webb, Corona del Mar<\/p>\n