On May 22, one of New York’s most wonderful competitions went down at Webster Hall: The Speed Rack national tour. This competition was composed of the top female bartenders in the country, competing for breast cancer research. And the winner is…New York’s own Lacy Hawkins of NoMad Bar, who has now earned the title of Miss Speed Rack USA!
Hawkins beat more than 200 female bartenders during regionals, held in eight different major cities and ending in New York, for the coveted title. Finals at Webster Hall consisted of eight finalists and eight wild card winners, who competed in heats to make rounds of cocktails from a list of 50 industry-standard classic recipes. Over 700 guests were there to cheer on the competitors.
Being Miss Speed Rack USA comes with more than just bragging rights. Luxardo, Italy’s premier liqueur producer, presented Hawkins with the Grand Prize trip for 2 to Padova, Italy, the home of Luxardo’s distillery. She will also join Speed Rack Founders Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix trip to the Jameson Distillery in Ireland and represent the U.S. at the Jameson Bartender Ball. She will be joined by the speed Rack winner from each city. She will then go on an all-inclusive trip for two to France, where she can both indulge in the culture of the Anjou region and take a tour of the Cointreau distillery while attending the Cointreau Bartender Academie.
In addition to all this amazing traveling, Hawkins received a scholarship to a five-day program from the founding Partners of BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource) and a custom bar bag from Barkeeper & Co. Not too shabby, Speed Rack.
Soooo, Hawkins: did you choose your plus one yet?
all images via Speed Rack
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