Alchemy
Fest 2023

Cincinnati’s Cocktail Competition, Art & Music Festival

Sunday, May 21st • 2–8pm • Smoke Justis Covington

Alchemy
Fest 2023

Cincinnati’s Cocktail Competition, Art & Music Festival

Sunday, May 21st • 2–8pm • Smoke Justis Covington

What is Alchemy Fest?

15 eager and crafty bartenders start by making batch cocktails for you to sample and vote on. There are three prelim rounds of five bartenders. Each of the rounds is sponsored by a distillery. Two bartenders from each round advance to the final six, and are then voted on by three judges!  The top 3 bartenders win money!

What is Your Role?

For the first three rounds, you get tickets to vote for your favorite cocktails. Yeah, that’s right… You get to sample drinks and vote on your favorite! This is audience participation at its finest! The two bartenders that win off your votes will go to the finals. Who are you going to vote for and take to the finals?

Distilleries

3 Rounds. 1 Distillery & 5 Competitors Per Round.

Round 1: Three Keys Distillery

The first round is made up of five competitors using products from Three Keys Distillery. The round will begin at 3:00pm and end at 3:45pm.

www.threekeysdistillery.com

 

Round 2: Log Still Distillery

The second round is sponsored by Log Still Distillery. There are five competitors in round two that will begin at 4:15pm and end at 5:00pm.

www.logstilldistillery.com

 

Round 3: Michter's Distillery

The third round uses products sponsored by Michter’s Distillery. There are five competors to vote on. The round will begin at 5:30pm and end at 6:15pm.

www.michters.com

 

Judges

You’ll Vote for the Winners of the First 3 Rounds. The Judges Only Vote for the Final Round.

Returning Judge Molly Wellmann

Former owner of Japp’s, author, master mixologist, and Cincinnati historian Molly Wellmann needs no introduction. She’ll be a third-time judge for Cincinnati Alchemy Fest and we’re thrilled to have her back in the judge’s seat again this year for another awesome competition.

Instagram @mollywellmann

CAF 2022 Winner Jade Colwell

And look who’s joining us this year, none other than our Cincinnati Alchemy Fest 2022 winner, Jade Colwell!  Jade is the bar manager at Smoke Justis, a brand new mom, and it will be very cool to have her lending her expertise in a judge’s chair for 2023. Welcome Jade!

Instagram @hrecomesthesun

Boars Room GM Dan Altom

Give a big CAF welcome to Dan Altom! Dan is an accomplished pro in the hospitality industry and has a palette like none other. He is currently the GM at Boars Room in Covington, doing bourbon and wine tastings, and putting the private club on the map in the region.  

Instagram @boarsroom

Competitors

15 Total Bartenders. 5 Competitors Per Round. 

Lee Caldwell

Second Story

Round 1: Three Keys
3:00–3:45pm

Billy Bays

Augusta Distillery

Round 1: Three Keys
3:00–3:45pm

Deonna Sora

Sweet Dee Hospitality

Round 1: Three Keys
3:00–3:45pm

Joey Fening

Coppin’s

Round 1: Three Keys
3:00–3:45pm

Geoffrey Kaicher

Pins Mechanical

Round 1: Three Keys
3:00–3:45pm

Henry Burgin

The Standard Covington

Round 2: Log Still
4:15–5:00pm

Logan Adams

Pinball Garage

Round 2: Log Still
4:15–5:00pm

Jordan Young

Tillie’s Lounge

Round 2: Log Still
4:15–5:00pm

Nimer Naber

Frankie’s

Round 2: Log Still
4:15–5:00pm

Alex VanWinkle

Three Spirits Tavern

Round 2: Log Still
4:15–5:00pm

Tyler Sargent

Wiseguys Covington

Round 3: Michter’s
5:30–6:15pm

Jordan Vidas

Goose & Elder

Round 3: Michter’s
5:30–6:15pm

Trent Ruby

Otto’s

Round 3: Michter’s
5:30–6:15pm

Sara Barnett

Covington Yard

Round 3: Michter’s
5:30–6:15pm

Lauren Willis

Pins Mechanical

Round 3: Michter’s
5:30–6:15pm

Get your tickets

Come vote on the competition, and enjoy live music, local art vendors, and delicious barbecue at Smoke Justis in Covington, KY.