On Sunday, April 23, Waxlight Bar a' Vin will host its twice-annual professional cocktail competition. 

The 2023 Spring Open has an 80s theme, so competitors Keith Raimondi of The Dapper Goose., Esmay Charm of Inizio, Megan Lee of Marble +Rye, Brett Krebs of Mes Que, and Jason Wood of Nowhere Lounge will each create an original cocktail inspired by the cocktail trends of that decade. Attendees are encouraged to dress on theme!

The event is sponsored by Samson & Surrey, distributor of the most admired independent premium craft spirits in the world. 

Cocktails will be judged for their cohesiveness, technical skill, balance, name, ability to highlight the assigned spirit, and overall consistency. Judges for the 2023 Spring Open include Simone Boone, owner of Rochester's Apogee Wine Bar, Dan Hagen, co-owner of Billy Club, and Jeff Yannuzzi, longtime bar professional and Waxlight alum. 

Guests will enjoy light fare and sample all five of the competing cocktails; the bar will also be open. The event is hosted by Buffalo Spree magazine's food editor, Christa Glennie.

Waxlight Bar a' Vin is a James Beard-nominated restaurant located in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood and owned equally by four of Buffalo's leading food and drink pros. 

April 23, 2023

Doors at 4pm

$60 includes cocktail samples and light fare

Tickets: https://bit.ly/Waxlight-Spring-Open-23