Bethany Blues mixologist places eighth in nationwide contest

Bethany Blues of Lewes announced its in-house mixologist, Ryan Minnick, placed eighth in a field of more than 40,000 competitors taking part in a national bartending and fundraising event sponsored by Dos Hombres Mezcal.

Dos Hombres was founded by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. The competition was held in partnership with the Kind Campaign, a globally recognized nonprofit that raises awareness and seeks to heal the wounds caused by girl-on-girl bullying within schools.

Minnick, who has three children of his own, said, “This cause is dear to me because of my role as a father, and so this was a chance to raise money and compete as a bartender, which is something I also really enjoy.”

Minnick has been curating delicious cocktails at Bethany Blues for years with his barrel-aging cocktail program, and has come out with impressive drinks that pack tons of nuance into a single sip. Being on the national stage at the helm of a fundraiser was new territory for Minnick, and he rose to the occasion with not only his high placement, but also his overall showing in the fundraising.

The bartenders and mixologists who entered were tasked with a number of efforts around the competition including attending workshops, designing their own logos, creating signature drinks, marketing their craft, and of course, fundraising. Minnick’s cocktail was called Fight or Flight, and it paid tribute to the anti-bullying Kind Campaign by using its logo colors as inspiration. His drink included Dos Hombres mezcal, hibiscus cane syrup, grilled pineapple, habanero chili bitters, egg white and black volcanic sea salt.

After creating the cocktail, Minnick’s placement rested on people voting for his drink. Voters had two options: They were able to cast their vote once every 24 hours for free, and they could also vote via donations, by making tax-deductible contributions through the website. Minnick raised $14,000 for the Kind Campaign, supported from the heart of Sussex County in the dead of winter.

Jessica Nathan, director of operations for the Lewes Bethany Blues location, said, “This contest speaks to Ryan’s mixologist skill set and overall great personality behind the bar. He loves what he does and enjoys bringing new creations to as many people as he can, so social media is right up his alley. We are so proud that he is one of our own, and he hopes he and the rest of our bar team continue to thrive with experiences like this at Blues!”

Minnick’s signature cocktail created for the competition is now available to the public at Bethany Blues’ Lewes location, as well as at Stingray in Rehoboth Beach.