Bar Wire

The regional finals for the DISARONNO Mixing Star Competition were recently held in six cities, including San Diego, with the top two bartenders from each spot moving onto the U.S. finals in New Orleans at July 18th's Tales of the Cocktail. The two SoCal victors were San Diego's own Mike Yen (Kitchen 1540) and Nathan Burdette (The Bazaar in LA). Yen's winning drink was the Cultura Italiana, made with yogurt-infused vodka, Disaronno, Cocchi Americano Aperitivo, Meyer Lemon juice and apricot bitters. [EaterWire]