currents - Pacific San Diego Magazine

taste
WHAT’S COOKING
DINING OUT
COCKTAIL
Full of Schmidt
The perfect pour from one of San Diego’s top ‘tenders
By Brandon Hernández • Photos by Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan
On November 30, eight of our Finest City’s
finest bartenders converged on one of San
Diego’s most respected cocktail destinations,
downtown’s El Dorado, to determine, once
and for all, who is the pourest of the pour. Eight mixologists
battled in a head-to-head, Iron Chef-style competition that was
conducted in single-elimination rounds where only three types
of liquor were allowed. Adding to the challenge, each round
featured a surprise ingredient that had to be added to the mix.
The action got off to a shaky start, and when all the
glasses were half-empty, it was Anthony Schmidt from the
East Village hideaway, Noble Experiment (the speakeasy
hidden inside Neighborhood), that won top honors and
bragging rights with his Wry Grin, a minty sweet-and-sour
tipple with a rye whiskey base.
“Serving five judges with various interests can be
challenging, so I tried using a drink that appeals to as wide
an audience as possible,” says Schmidt. “It’s an approachable
drink for the novice palate, but the use of Fernet Branca
[an Italian digestif made with herbs and spices] adds deep
complexity and appeals to the more experienced drinker.”
Despite being a technician who’s studied the art of craftbartending
at spirit-centric spots across the country, Schmidt
admits to having been anxious about the competition, which
was stacked with bartenders that are not only local titans,
but also some of his best friends.
“I respect all the pros who had the guts to show up at the
event at El Dorado,” he says. “It takes courage to put yourself
out in the open like that. I know I was nervous as all get out.”
Victory is sweet, but it’s the satisfaction of a job well done
that drives this intoxicating innovator.
“I love Noble Experiment because it gives me every possible
tool I need to make sure every customer who sits on the other
side of the bar is as happy as possible,” Schmidt says. “The
rest is up to me. If I make the right decisions, if I study up on
cocktails and ingredients, if I’m nice and engage the golden
rule, I get instant gratification—happy new friends.”
Cheers to that.
Top
of
the
Glass
El Dorado’s
bartender
contenders
Jacqueline Coulon
Starlite
Garth Flood
Cowboy Star
Eric Johnson
Craft and Commerce
Seth Laufman
URBN
Eric Plambeck
Jaynes Gastropub
Anthony Schmidt
Noble Experiment
Mathew Stanton
El Dorado
Tim Stevens
Prohibition
64 pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}