Three Central Arkansas bartenders came out on top in Monday night’s section of the Great Arkansas ROX STAR Bartender Competition at Cache Restaurant and Lounge.
Texas-based gin company ROXOR is hosting the competition. AY Magazine is sponsoring the ROX STAR Bartender Competition.
15 bartenders went head to head for the top three spots. The competition was fierce in the upstairs room of the downtown Little Rock restaurant, located at 425 President Clinton Avenue. Central Arkansas’ victors were Merrick Fagan of Trio’s Restaurant, Courtney Stowers from the Capital Hotel and Veo Tyson of So Restaurant Bar. All three bars are located in Little Rock, at 8201 Cantrell Road #100, 111 W. Markham Street and 3610 Kavanaugh Boulevard, respectively.
RELATED: Read about the Northwest Arkansas round »
Fagan and Tyson are well-known figures of the Little Rock bar scene. The three Little Rock bartenders will face off against their Northwest Arkansas rivals – Jorge Prado of Maxine’s Tap Room, Nilson Clark of Ben’s Apartment and Joshua Blackwell-Purdy of Local Flavor Cafe – in the final round June 25.
After weeks of competition, the ROX STAR finals will take place at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. The overall winner will get bragging rights, of course, and a trip to Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.