To add a personal touch, each year Where Y'at sponsors a competition to give some recognition to the fine bartenders who serve up our favorite drinks. Each bar reviewed in the guide also had the opportunity to nominate their most hardworking, dynamic and creative bartenders. This year, the contest is presented by Wild Turkey 81 and the challenge for the nominees is to create a signature cocktail using the high-proof bourbon. Check out their recipes for cocktail ideas, the variety of tasty concoctions span flavors of all kinds. Decide for yourself who's made the ultimate cocktail by voting for your favorite in the Best Bartender of New Orleans Contest on WhereYat.com. We also asked some of the nominees to tell us about the craziest stuff they've seen as facilitators of this wild city's constant parties. Naturally, the stories they told are funny, jaw dropping and at times even star-studded. Check out their comments throughout. - Erica Boni
12 Mile Limit
Anderson Stockdale Fall Crush
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ½ oz. Aperol Liqueur ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice 3 dashes Tiki Bitters
Shake, strain, top with ice. Add 2 oz. orange soda and a lemon wedge garnish
Ampersand
Kilafu Bailey Flying Turkey
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Firefl y ½ oz. Simple Syrup
Fill with orange juice and pineapple juice.
Balcony Bar & Café
Rachael Qunthor
2 count Wild Turkey 81 3 oz. Lemonade 1 ½ oz. Coconut Syrup
Shake and pour.
Bar Tonique
Bazil Zerinsky
Bazi's Hurrication
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¾ oz. Yellow Chartreuse ¾ oz. Lemon Juice ¼ oz. Vanilla Bean Syrup ¼ oz. Allspice Dram
Garnish with a sprig of mint.
BMC
Margot Cook
Margot's Swamp Water
¼ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¼ oz. Peach Schnapps ¼ oz. Amaretto ¼ oz. Melon Midori A splash of Sweet & Sour
Bombay Club
l.J. Hunt
Grand Dad Turkey
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Simple Syrup 1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice Sprig of Mint
Fill equal parts Soda and 7up.
Bourbon Heat
Emily Istre
Gobble Gobble
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 3 Ice Cubes 1 Glass
Why mess with perfection?
What's your Wildest Night Bartending?
A customer bought the dress off of me. - Emily Istre, Bourbon Heat Movie wrap parties can get pretty wild. - Sierra Fitzgerald, House of Blues Every night that I bartend. - Matt Smith, Rick's Cabaret The owner came behind the bar and started pouring shots for customers.
- Brian Oliver, Visions Men's Club The Saints Super Bowl win. - Jason White, The Penthouse Club
Bruno's Tavern
Bill Hodgson
Libertea
½ shot Wild Turkey 81 ½ shot Wild Turkey ½ shot Wild Turkey American Honey Water Lemonade Black Tea Basil
Buffa's Lounge
Bonnie Cook Pontiac Bonnieville
1 jigger Wild Turkey 81 1 jigger White Rum 1 jigger Amaretto 1 jigger Peach Schnapps 1 jigger Pineapple Juice
Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone
Marvin Allen
Fall Apple Turkey
1 Egg White 2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 2 tbsp. Apple Cinnamon Preserves 1 Squeeze of Lemon 1 /8 oz. Agave Nectar 2-4 dashes of Black Walnut Bitters
Club Caribbean
Kalvin Hewitt
Jive Turkey
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ½ oz. Carolans ½ oz. Kahlua Dash of Nutmeg Dash of Pumpkin Spice
Top with whipped cream and cinnamon garnish.
Coyote Ugly Saloon
Jasmine Okuma
Lemon Spice
½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¼ oz. Pucker Lemonade Splash of Sour Squeeze of Lemon Wedge
Shake and strain. Serve in sugar rimmed shot glass.
Dino's Bar & Grill
Allie Verde
Manhattan
Wild Turkey 81 Sweet Vermouth
Garnished with a cherry.
Coolest person you've ever met?
Randy Jackson from Zebra comes in here and plays acoustically about 4 times a year. - Ian Gregory, Hurricanes Sports Bar
The Dive Bar
Kassie Netherland
Sucker-punch
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 Pineapple Juice Cranberry Juice Sweet and Sour Mix Splash of Grenadine Squeeze of Lemon
Shake and pour into Collins glass.
Eiffel Society
Reida Singh
Wild Olivia
1 ¼ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¾ oz. St. Germain ¾ oz. Wild Hibiscus Syrup Suae and Straeu Euto Champagne Lemon Squeeze in lemon and Wild Hibiscus fl ower.
Erin Rose Bar
Evan Manowitz
Turkey Lemonade
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 ½ oz. Simple Syrup Splash of Sour Mix Splash of Soda Water
Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Advice or Tips for Aspiring Bartenders?
Taste everything: coffee, wine, spirits, food!
Be adventurous and it will help you behind the bar.
- Anderson Stockdale, 12 Mile Limit First you need a personality. Then you need to be able to identify many different types of people. Defi nitely cannot be shy.
- Josh Daley, Tropical Isle Original
Finn McCool's Irish Pub
lauren Soboul
Ol' Frisky Whiskey
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 tbsp. Light Brown Sugar 1 tbsp. Very Hot Water Dash of 100% Pure Vanilla Extract Dash of Angostura Bitters 1 Satsuma Wedge
Combine in rocks glass, swirl. Add Wild Turkey 81 and ice, stir. Garnish with Satsuma wedge.
Fulton on Tap
Ross VanGeffen
The Wild Julep
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 2 tsp. Water 4 Mint Leaves 1 tsp. Powdered Sugar
Muddle mint water and sugar. Add ice and Wild Turkey 81. Garnish with mint leaf.
Hangar 13
Matthew Fortmayer
The Turkey Glider
Coat Glass with Sweet Vermouth 1 shot Wild Turkey 81 Splash Ginger Ale 2 Lemon Wedges Squeezed Splash of Cranberry
Happy's Irish Pub
Davina Alpert
Turkey Bomb
1 /3 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 /3 oz. Malibu Rum 1 /3 oz. Peach Schnapps Splash of Orange Juice Splash of Cranberry Juice
Combine in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into rocks glass.
Hermes' Bar at Antoine's
Mechelle Davis
Who Dat
Wild Turkey 81 Peach Brandy Sour Mix Sprite Wedge of Orange
Bartender Pet Peeves?
Hands in the fruit tray. - Eric Molina, Witt's Inn
The Holy Ground
Cheryl Hoehn
Turkey Feathers
1 oz. of Wild Turkey 81 ½ oz. of Apricot Brandy ½ oz. of Triple Sec
Squeeze slice of orange. Top with soda and water.
House of Blues
Sierra Fitzgerald
Country Stroll
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 4 Blackberries 2 Sprigs of Dill ½ oz. of Blackberry Brandy ½ oz. Simple Syrup 2 Squeezed Lemon Wedges
Shaken & strained over ice.
Hurricanes Sports Bar & Grill
Ian Gregory
Wild Side
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 ½ Pint of Woodchuck 1 oz. Peach Schnapps
Irving Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse
Jamie Burton
Holiday Manhattan
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¾ oz. Cranberry Liqueur ¾ oz. Triple Sec Clove Syrup
J & J's Sports Lounge
Melanie Shubert
Harvest Moon
1 tsp. Apple Sauce with Cinnamon 1 tsp. Hot Butter Drink Mix 3 oz. Apple Cider 1 oz. Very Hot Water
Mix all together. Heat in microwave. Add 1 shot of Wild Turkey 81 into an Irish coffee glass, pour in heated mix. Garnish with a cinnamon stick topped with whipped cream.
Jigger's Bar & Grill
Ben Enault
Snowshoe Shot
Wild Turkey 81 Peppermint Schnapps
The Kerry Irish Pub
Paul Bowman
The Yard Bird
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 4 oz. Ginger Ale ½ oz. Orange Juice
Shaken and served on the rocks.
Le Bon Temps Roule
Kim DeWitt
Famous Bloody Mary
Wild Turkey 81 Le Bon Temps Bloody Mary Mix
Lucy's Retired surfer's Bar
Chris Johnson
Kentucky Cosmo
2 ¼ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¾ oz. Grand Marnier 1 /3 oz. Orange Juice 1-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon rind.
Best thing that happened while bartending?
I met my fi ancé. - Lauren Soboul, Finn McCool's Irish Pub
The Maison
Victoria Treadaway
Wild Apple Spice Martini
1 shot of Wild Turkey 81 1 shot Sweet Vermouth 2 dashes Peach Bitters 4 dashes of Whiskey Bitters
Muddle cherries. Shake and strain over rocks. Top off with an orange zest.
Masquerade at Harrah's
Al Theroit
Angry Bird
1 ¼ oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¼ oz. Triple Sec Squeeze of Orange Cinnamon Rim
Garnish with orange twist.
Mid-City Yacht Club
George Pool
Smooth Sail
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 2 oz. Cointreau 2 oz. Ginger Ale
Monkey Hill
Ashley Baker
101 Degrees
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Chocolate Liqueur 1 oz. Coffee Liqueur Splash of Milk Pinch of Cayenne Pinch of Cinnamon
Shake. Strain into a martini glass rimmed with chocolate and graham crackers. Top with hazelnut whipped cream.
Parlay's Bar
Brenna Hopmeyer
Turkey Drop
2 parts Wild Turkey 81 1 part Sour Mix Squeeze of Lemon A dash of Simple Syrup
Pat o'Brien's
Marie Kimball
Doctor Morgus
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 Pat O'Briens Cyclone Mix Splash of Green Crème de Menthe
The Penthouse Club
Jason White
Turkey Tea
1.5 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 Dirty Glass
Most embarrassing moment?
I was changing a keg & it exploded ALL over me, while eight guys were waiting at the bar for the keg of beer to be changed. - Margot Cook, BMC
When I ripped my pants changing a keg and one of the waitresses had to staple my pants together. - Nick Wheelock, The Columns Hotel
Rick's Cabaret
Matt Smith
Rue la Ville
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 2 oz. Apricot Juice Ground Cinnamon Twist of Lemon
Rita's Tequila House
Teague Phoenix
Wild Apple Spice Martini
1 ¼ oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 ¼ oz. Apple Pucker 1 oz. Lemon Liquor Ginger ale
Shaken & strain. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
The Rivershack Tavern
Jennifer Hemphill
Bye Bye Blackbird
Wild Turkey 81 Lemonade Soda Triple Sec Blackberry Puree Splash of Sour Mix Squeeze of Lemon
Shamrock
Sarah McGloon
Turkey's Revenge
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Triple Sec Splash of Pineapple Juice Splash of Orange Juice Float Myers Rum
Garnish with a lime. Serve in 16 oz. glass.
St. Joe's Bar
Jason Mangone
Blueberry Old-Fashioned
2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 3 Blueberries 1 Orange Slice ¼ oz. Simple Syrup 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters Splash of Club Soda
Muddle blueberries, orange slice and simple syrup in a rocks glass. Add ice & Wild Turkey 81. Stir and top with a splash of club soda.
The Boot
Corey Fayette
Turkey Ball
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 ¾ oz. Amaretto Splash of Pineapple Juice
The Columns
Nick Wheelock
The Tom Snood
Rim rocks glass with Chartreuse & flower water. Chill 2 parts Wild Turkey 81 and 1 part Triple Sec. Strain into rocks glass. Top it off with a splash of Ginger Beer and 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters. Garnish with a Lemon Twist.
TJ Quills
Matthew Morgan
Thanksgiving Dinner
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie Vodka Cranberry Juice
Tracey's
Bob Walker
Purple People-Eater
Wild Turkey 81 ½ tbsp. Brown Sugar 2 Small Blackberries Orange Zest Dash of Bitters Lemon Juice
Coat Glass with olive brine. Fill with ice and garnish with orange slice and blackberry.
Biggest tip you've ever gotten?
I've gotten $200 on a $80 tab. - Brenna Hopmeyer, Parlay's Bar Every tip from Mr. Chau's Waka Kickball. - Matthew Morgan, TJ Quills A regular came in one time and left a $400 tip on a $50 tab.
- AJ Johnson, Tropical Isle Bayou Club
Tropical Isle Bayou Club
AJ Johnson
Blue Gobbler
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Peach Schnapps 1 oz. Blue Curacao 2 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix 1 oz. Sprite
Shake and pour.
Tropical Isle original
Josh Daley
Turkey Tea
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 4 oz. Pineapple Juice ¼ oz. Malibu Rum ¼ oz. Peach Schnapps ¼ oz. Cranberry Juice ¼ oz. Orange Juice Lemon & Lime Slices Shake. Pour in glass. Top off with cherry juice & garnish with cherry.
Visions Men's Club
Brian Oliver
Turkey Tea
1.5 oz. Wild Turkey 81 3 oz. Coke Splash of Sweet and Sour Lemon Wedge
Shake and pour.
Wit's Inn
Eric Molina
Carrolton Cocktail
1 oz. Wild Turkey 81 1 oz. Peppercorn Simple Syrup 3 dashes Aztec chocolate bitters
Squeeze 2 lemons over rocks.
