Some of St. Croix’s most talented bartenders gathered Saturday evening at the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery for Rotary Club of St. Croix Mid-Isle’s “Iron Bartender” competition, an energetic showcase of creativity, skill, and island flavor.
The competition opened with 10 mixologists presenting their signature cocktails to the crowd. After the first round, Amanda Mateja, Kyle Colantuoni, Juan Anthony Sanes, and Chanel Aubert advanced by popular vote to the next stage, where they were challenged to create drinks using a set of predetermined ingredients.
The remaining contestants — Kealoni “KJ” Richards, Cecily Lawrence, Jerome Xavier Minto, Jahmani Johnson, Amber Wyse, and Rasheda Bell — were given another opportunity to compete in a spirit-free round, highlighting the growing popularity and creativity of mocktail-style beverages.
In the final round, Colantuoni and Sanes faced off before judges Rob Husted, Carl Summa, and Edgar Bengoa. Their challenge was to craft a cocktail featuring bush tea and jackfruit. Sanes rose to the occasion, earning the top prize of $3,000 and the title of Iron Bartender with a cocktail he later named “Jack in the Box.”
Sanes said the jackfruit immediately guided his approach.
“I’ve never tasted jackfruit before, so immediately, the first thing I did was go in and smell it,” Sanes said. “I tried to get the notes and the hints — it gave me coconut, it gave me vanilla, and that’s exactly what I put in there. I also added some fresh mint, slapped it, shook it up, served it out, and the judges happened to like it.”
Colantuoni finished as runner-up, taking home $1,000, while Richards earned $500 for winning the mocktail competition.
Husted, a world-renowned flair bartender and educator, said the judges considered several key elements throughout the evening, including taste, aroma, presentation, and overall bartending technique.
“What does a cocktail look like? The bartending skills — while they’re actually making the cocktail, are they spilling? Are they rushing through it, or are they calm, cool, collected and a master of their tools,” Husted said. “And the biggest thing we always ask ourselves as judges is, would I order this cocktail again?”
While the event brought out a strong competitive spirit, it also highlighted the camaraderie and creativity within St. Croix’s bartending community.
Aubert said she enjoyed seeing how each contestant used their craft to express themselves.
“It’s really, really interesting,” she said. “Everyone expresses themselves so creatively through their drinks, and I just think that there’s a certain community to be found in that.”
Rotary Mid-Isle’s Iron Bartender competition brought together great drinks, friendly competition, and community support for an evening that celebrated local talent and the vibrant culture of St. Croix.