Award Winners: Bartenders

FAVORITE CUSTOMER- BOBBY/ROBBY THE PAINTER

Bobby/Robby, if you see this, reach out to us. We’d love to know more about you. This was a write-in, folks! We’ve not had a “favorite customer” award before, but several people wrote this one in, from several different bars spread across Providence. So cheers to you, Bobby or Robby. Whatever you’re doing, it’s making an impact and earning friends.– MR

MOST VOTES TOTAL, FAVORITE NEW/ ORIGINAL MIXED DRINK, BARTENDER-AS-A-THERAPIST, 2ND PLACE MIXOLOGY COMPETITION – BRANDON MADDOCK

Brandon Maddock is from a small town on Long Island. Never did he imagine he’d make it all the way to our Bartender Awards, and to win so many! Maddock comments, “‘It was hard to believe,’ would be a good way to put it. I sent the link to a few of my regulars and stuff like that to get it around the restaurant so I could hopefully get those votes. It’s cool that that succeeded. The overall vote BLEW my mind, it kind of brought me to tears. The award ceremony as a whole was really fun, this was my first time going to it. I have never been to that go karting place, it was like an adult playground. All the people I competed against in the mixology competition were incredibly talented, and everyone was genuine and respectful. It wasn’t hard fought, people weren’t mean if they won vs. if they lost, which is really cool to see, especially if alcohol is involved.” You can find Maddock at Square Peg in Warren, RI, or at its sister restaurant, the Stingy Ally, where he is probably making old fashioneds. – MH

LIVE MIXOLOGY CHALLENGE

During our Bartender Awards we had live bartending competitions taking place. While the second one, a distance pour competition, was a sillier form of a competition, our first competition was a mixology competition that required bartenders to make a cocktail using South County Distillers Gin (South County Distillers is a new affiliate of Grey Sail Brewing). Five bartenders competed, pouring three glasses of their creation for the judges and then pouring samples for the audience. Judges were Mike Silva of BAS Cocktails, and Third House Events burlesque performers and owners Belle Gunz and Jane Doe. Controlled chaos erupted as competitor’s friends cheered from the sidelines and the drinks began to flow to the crowd. The decisions were tough, but here’s where the refined tastebuds ended up, after agreeing that all the original concoctions were professional grade and a pleasure to sip. – TL

1ST PLACE MIXOLOGY LIVE COMPETITION – NICHOLE BONOLLO

For the owner of Sippin’ Pretty Mobile Bar RI, this isn’t the first bartending-focused award Bonollo has won. Just a few weeks ago she won the Wicked Best Margarita 2024 Judges Choice award at an event put on by Two Bullyz at Mulligans Island. Bonollo’s mobile bar serves custom drinks tailored to the event occasion and also offers mocktails. Nichole’s winning drink featured South County Distillers Gin with fresh lime, homemade raspberry jalapeno syrup and prosecco. 2nd Place went to Brendan Maddock and 3rd Place to Aleia Morin & Patrick Hamilton -TL

BEST SMOKED COCKTAIL – CHARLIE PINTO

Charlie Pinto won the infamous Smoked Cocktail award, a write-in category recommended by a few voters. We were lucky enough to talk to him and get some history, and clarification, on the smokey goodness, “Years ago, when I graduated high school, my mother bought me a class at Johnson and Wales to be certified as a bartender. At 18, I took a job as a barback at a club called Centerfolds. Eventually, I got a job as a bartender at Tommy’s Place [RIP] for 11 years. Then there was an opportunity for me to work at Moonshine Alley. It seemed like a really good place to be, and it is. Their back room had no business, so I told them to stick me back there and let me make off-the-menu drinks.” These off-the-menu drinks are his smoked cocktail concoctions. “Basically you can do it with any alcohol, but I prefer Bourbon or Whisky. I put a smoker on top, and get some flavored wood chips. Different flavored wood chips bring out the flavor more so than others.” Pinto knows what he’s talking about, and isn’t afraid to say it. “Not to sound arrogant, but I feel like I definitely deserve this award. I haven’t met anyone who has smoked cocktails correctly. This is a speciality thing, so I put the time and the effort into making sure it is done right.” Timing is everything, along with torch angle, and the goal is to have the right amount of flavor smokily drift down from the chips into the drink. You can find Pinto at Moonshine Alley every Saturday night in the backroom, and also at Friendly Sons of St Patrick in Cumberland on Friday nights. He loves making his special drinks, but, he says “As every bartender would say, the best drink to make is Bud Lite.” – MH

RUNNER UP MOST WRITE-IN VOTES – DOMINIQUE STROMLEY

Stromley works at The Blue Room where she must have gained a great reputation as she received almost the most write-in votes out of anyone. Videos of Stromley making cocktails can be found on her Instagram, where she can be seen always with an award-winning smile. – TL

FUNNIEST BARTENDER – JIMMY RIDLEN

Winning the funniest bartender really does make you stand taller, and Jimmy Ridlen was standing tall after accepting his award to cheers from the audience. Ridlen, who works at What Cheer Bar, came with an entourage of fellow bartenders. Whoever wins this award knows that being at the bar is made better with a few laughs. – MH

FAVORITE TASTING ROOM BARTENDER – JULIE TAYLOR

Taylor is the smiling face that is likely to greet you any time you enter Trinity Brew House, where she’s been a staple for years and is currently the manager. It’s not her first win in these awards, and she’s known for always having a twinkle in her eye, a kind word, and a craft beer. – MR

FAVORITE FANCY COCKTAIL BARTENDER, FAVORITE NEW BARTENDER – KARAEL MISTIVAR

Mistivar is part of the team taking care of the bar at Clementine’s, and is clearly making a lot of great first impressions through mixological magic. Fresh out of CCRI with a business degree, Karael is on a fast track from Jersey Mike’s to upscale bar manager.- MR

BARTENDER IN UNEXPECTED LOCATIONS (E.G. POP UPS) – KATERINA PENDERSEN

Showing up in unexpected local watering holes like Deadbeats PVD or wandering to private events like Blithewold’s holiday lights in the RI Cruisin’ Cocktails mobile, is standard drill for Motif’s firsttime winner. Constantly in motion, when Pedersen isn’t pouring she’s seriously enjoying life – cheering on race cars at the speedway, biking and hiking mountains in New England, and even skiing the slopes of Killington or Loon. – JM

FAVORITE DIVE-BAR BARTENDER, FAVORITE LOCAL ICON, RUNNER-UP FOR MOST VOTES TOTAL – LEAH STODDARD

Leah Stoddard cleaned house in this ceremony. And we know why, ’cause she has seen it all. When we spoke to her, this is what she had to say, “I started as a waitress. I was younger back then, in 1998. I started working in downtown Providence. I worked everywhere. I even worked at Charlie-O’s when I was in school. I used to work at the Providence Firefighters Hall. You wanna talk about a dive, that’s a dive. It’s a dead-end spot on a river, pretty much a horror movie. Then, I started working at 133 in East Providence, and am now there and at Hot Club.” She says,“Honestly, I’m 100% shocked. If you work in this industry, you absolutely know that everyone who steps behind a bar is amazing. I know plenty of other bartenders who deserve this award. I love everyone I have ever worked with. You learn from everyone all the time. I think we have such a great industry in Providence. I think the industry is strong and we all support each other. I kind of love that. “The industry is a collective whole and not just one person.” – MH

FAVORITE MULTITASKER – MARISSA B. CHILLEN

Only a comedian with the name B. Chillen could win Favorite Multitasking Bartender. A favorite mixologist at Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks, Chillen is known for her “turn and burn” moves, bourbon-based cocktails, and impeccably organized bar. Even on Trivia Night, she can carry on several conversations at once, mix a batch of cocktails, make cash, take a new order, crack a few jokes and probably get the answer right. She infuses her trademark old fashioned with brown sugar to complement the spirits’ rich sweetness. She still writes comedy, but only performs at open mic nights. She gets her mojo by hitting the gym and weight lifting, building up her drink-slinging muscles.– JM

MOST WRITE-IN VOTES – MIKE FERREIRA

Until recently, The Axe Bar’s Mike Ferreira was famed for two things: concocting specialty shots and precision-grooming one of the longest beards in RI. When the Motif Bartender Awards were announced, he had just shaved it off, quickly realizing he probably severed his chances for a trophy. It became a running joke with the regulars at AXE Bar, “We’ll vote for you for something,” they jested. Winning the Bartender with Most Write-In Votes, Ferreira concedes it was no joke. “I must have lots more friends than I ever imagined,” he says. Ferreira’s “trust me” drink is the neon-green Scooby Snack. “A bit of Malibu, pineapple juice, and both banana and melon liqueurs,” he explains, proudly sharing the recipe. He also loves mixing up vividly-colored flavors of Jolly Rancher shots – apple, cherry, and watermelon. Ferreira has tended bar for more than six years. The Axe Bar is a perfect fit for this mixologist who is a self-taught axe throwing enthusiast turned instructor. When he’s on the other side of the bar, it’s probably at Main Street Coffee in East Greenwich, sipping an espresso martini on the rocks from a mason jar. “The best espresso martini. Anywhere. Period,” proclaims Ferriera who has sampled the bean beverage everywhere including Italy. – JM

BEST BEARD – MIKE RIGNEY

This is in danger of becoming a legacy beard situation for Mike, aka “Riggs,” whose facial hair took home the gold last year as well. He also took home overall favorite bartender in 2023. You can find him at Askew and at the Stable, where he’s known not only for his drinks (especially martinis), but for his approachable manner, a “solid flirt-to-roast ratio,” dope playlist, and, of course, that beard!– MR

HOME TOWN HERO, 3RD PLACE MIXOLOGY COMPETITION – PATRICK HAMILTON

Patrick Hamilton started off seven years ago on the pizza side of things. But when destiny calls, it calls, and before he knew it, he was training to bartend. Now, after winning these awards, he reflects, “It was a little surprising. Being nominated was humbling. Winning the award means a lot to me because of the fact that the bartenders mean something to the town. Whether it is making the drinks, or making sure they have a great experience. The whole idea of that is really, really cool. So is the whole awards ceremony. When I got there, the Food Truck & Beverage awards were happening, and I got to see a lot of great breweries winning a lot of great awards. It was also great to catch up with a lot of people I don’t see often.” “People can find me at Skeff’s Pub in East Providence. And my favorite drink is an old fashioned. The very few times I have a cocktail, that is what I will have.” – MH

FAVORITE SINGING BARTENDER, AND FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT – SCARLETT DELGADO

For over a decade, Delgado has fronted the band Lolita Black with smokey, whole-hearted vocals. A past winner of Music and Bartending Awards, she is one of the distinctive voices of RI and always a delight to see on stage. Follow Lolita Black at fb.com/lolitablack401. See Delgado’s now-award-winning social media (no pressure, Scarlett!) at fb.com/Titanoboabot or catch her slinging drinks at a pro level at Nick-A-Nees or Deadbeats, both in PVD. – MR

SASSIEST BARTENDER – WAYNE GONSALVES

Wayne Gonsalves started off bartending when he was 19, the youngest bartender at Chelo’s. No wonder he’s so sassy! On winning this award, he says, “It was definitely cool. The award ceremony is always fun. I’ve gone every year. It’s a fun gathering of people in the bar industry. They’re not always the most recognized or most appreciated, so it’s cool to see Motif come together and celebrate the people that help you party in the city and have a good time.” “There are definitely sassy bartenders that are nominated with me and a lot of them who were nominated, I definitely wanted to win. You have to keep them on your toes. They want a little sassiness with their drink.” Catch some of Wayne’s sassiness by ordering a margarita at Deadbeats. Why? “I love doing margaritas because I love to drink them.” – MH

FAVORITE HAIR – WILLOW ASHMAN

It’s lovely, truly. While this might not be the most serious aspect of the competition, it clearly goes each year to a dearly beloved bartender with fans who appreciate humor and, clearly, more than just glossy locks. Find Ashman working mixological magic and mystery shots at What Cheer, the esteemed neighborhood bar with the big fenced-in patio on Allens Ave in PVD.

DISTANCE POUR LIVE COMPETITION

We pour from a bottle of wine 8-feet in the air for six seconds. Twenty participants tried to catch as much wine as they could in their glasses. It was a tight race, but these three saved the most wine! First place – Patrick May Second place – Myles O’Donnell Third place – The Legendary Sasquatch

FAVORITE GAY BAR – THE STABLE

Calling the Stable a RI staple is a bit of a tonguetwister, but it’s also true. The bar is welcoming to all people of all persuasions, with a comfortably openminded vibe and a penchant for great music and great drinks. In walking distance from several other clubs, to make bar hopping comfortable. A parade of dragrelated event nights and nights like latex Friday keep things gay and interesting while a mix of local and obscure, fun out-of-town beers keep spirits high and inhibitions low. – MR 125 Washington St, PVD. stablepvd.com Congrats also to runner-up The Dark Lady.

FAVORITE LOCATION FOR FANCY DRINKS – CLEMENTINE COCKTAIL BAR

Clementine is a fairly new entry in the PVD bar scene, but it’s built a strong cocktail reputation already. Former US Representative David Ciciline is part owner of the downcity spot, and it’s named after his great grandmother. It’s the sort of bar where you should expect garnish clips, hand-torched toppings and bubbles of dry ice. The five-star drinks are complemented by small plates and charcuterie boards, and sometimes high-end pasta dishes. If you’re looking for the art of mixology, both to watch and to taste, this classy enclave is the spot our readers have voted up. It will leave you saying, “Orange you glad we came here?” – MR 200 Washington St, PVD. clementinecocktailbar. com Congrats also to runner-up The Eddy.

FAVORITE OVERALL WATERING HOLE/ BARTENDING ENSEMBLE – DEADBEATS

A well managed bar experience is like a well choreographed play – an ensemble endeavor endearing earnest bartenders to enthusiastic patrons. This year, readers voted for the upbeat but deadpan vibe at Deadbeats. Sliding into the previous location of a local legend can be tricky, but the West Side neighborhood has welcomed this new entry where the long-loved E & O used to be. The service is quick, the variety of drinks wide, and you can bring your own food in. Horrorthemed without being too divey or scary, Deadbeats’ personality walks the line between slaughter and neighborhood bar quite adeptly. – MR 289 Knight St, PVD. @deadbeats_pvd Congrats to runner-up 133 Club in East Providence!

FAVORITE DIVE BAR – JACK’S BAR

Established in 1941, Jack’s Bar on Water Street is exactly what you want a dive bar to be – friendly regulars, cheap drinks, comfortable stools, and immaculate bathroom. Plus, NO land-line phone to track you down with or distract the bartenders. The no-nonsense facade camouflages the Cheers-like camaraderie inside. “You can walk in by yourself, probably know at least one person, and be welcomed by all,” notes owner Stan Fafara. An array of college pennants hang from the rafters, while regulars watch the Sox, Patriots, Bruins, or challenge a fellow patron to backgammon or checkers. The amiable vibe has attracted folks for pre-dinner beers or cocktails as they wait for a table at neighboring Square Peg. Thirtythree years ago Farara took over from the Smuz family, the original owners. Farara, himself a regular, gladly jumped to the service side of the bar. – JM 187 Water St, Warren.

@jacksbarwarrenri Congrats also to runner up Nick-A-Nees in PVD!