Garden to Glass 2023

This year the annual Garden to Glass Cocktail Competition was held in The Boeing Center at the National WWII Museum on September 20, 2023. The theme this year was Magic on the Rocks in conjunction with the current exhibit Walt Disney Studios and World War II. Nine local distillers gathered to compete for Most Magical, Most Photogenic and Best Overall.

The American Sector provided heavy hors d'oeuvre with local ingredients inspired by World War II Victory Gardens.

This year we partnered with the newly opened Higgins Hotel and Conference Center for a happy hour before the event which offered drinks inspired by past winners at Rosie’s on the Roof and Killroy’s Bar and Lounge.

Participating Distillers included:

• Oxbow Rum Distillery

• Seven Three Distilling Co.

• NOLA Distillery

• Roulaison Distilling Co.

• Happy Raptor Distilling

• Borasso Spirits

• Lula Restaurant Distillery

• Laissez Versez

Seven Three Distilling Co. took home the Most Magical and Unique award for their drink inspired by Princess and the Frog:

Ray’s Back Porch
2 dashes El Guapo crawfish boil bitters
.5 ounce yellow bell pepper juice
.5 ounce El Guapo Sweet Potato Syrup
.75 ounce lemon juice
1.5 ounce Gentilly Gin

Add all ingredients to Shaker tin, shake thoroughly and strain over rocks glass.

NOLA Distillery won Most Photogenic and introduced their NEW Copper Tear® Resolution 19 Bourbon. Resolution 19 Bourbon is a 4-year straight and 3-year straight Blended Bourbon (90 proof) with a higher rye content, giving it a bold yet smooth flavor. Resolution 19 Bourbon was created to honor the 1964 U.S. Congress agreement that made bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States”. It has notes of maple syrup, almond, vanilla, caramel, and more.

The Glass Slipper Recipe:

2 oz Resolution 19 Bourbon

1.5 oz Lemongrass/Hibiscus Tea

0.5 oz Pineapple Juice

0.5 Lemon Juice

0.25 oz Star Anise Syrup

Dash of Orange Bitters

Oxbow Rum Distilling took home the Best Overall for their drink One Little Spark (as the official rum of the LSU Tigers, this drink is also offered at Tiger Stadium as the “Tiger Smash”)

2 oz Small Batch White Rum

.5 oz blackberry syrup (1:1 sugar and water simmered with blackberries)

Lemonade

Mix together over ice in a glass, top with Pop Rocks and enjoy!