Bartender Deathmatch at El Dorado

Tuesday night, see some of the city's best drink-slingers duke it out behind the bar at El Dorado for the third annual Bartender Challenge. Two-time champ Anthony Schmidt of Noble Experiment defends his title against seven challengers, including Hass Mahmood (Lion's Share), Pedro Melgar (Saltbox), Jacqueline Coulon (Starlite) and El Dorado's own Ryan Kuntz.

Each elimination round will have an Iron Chef-style twist, a secret ingredient that must be incorporated into an original cocktail. Contestants will also be able to avail themselves of El Dorado's well-stocked bar, featuring no less than nine bitters — celery, peach, mole and the dangerously-named hellfire. The event is free and starts at 6 p.m.

UPDATE: Christian Siglin from Craft & Commerce is this year's victor. His winning cocktail used the final round's secret ingredient, Hpnotiq Harmonie, plus gin, lemon and egg white.
· Uptown Bartenders Bring Their A-Game Downtown [SDUptown]
· El Dorado [Official Site]