Formerly NightClub and Bar Show (NCB), the pinnacle of conventions for those in the food and beverage industry, with 2022 brings a change in name: Bar and Restaurant Expo! Some of the highlights of the convention included the Conference, Expo, Nightlife, the World Tea Academy and of course Exhibits. The first few years I attended, before I retired Eve Bushman Consulting, I attended classes with amazing information on staff retention, preventing theft, troubleshooting and a challenging future. The last two years I’ve focused on the expo convention floor alone, searching out new products to share with readers. This year’s event, held last month at the Las Vegas Convention Center we discovered these the first night:
The “Welcome Kickoff Party”, open to all attendees of the Restaurant and Bar Expo, was at Sahara’s Azilo Pool where we sampled some of the beverages we would also have at the show. Our favorites included: Kurvball Original BBQ Whiskey that reminded me of chocolate-covered bacon at the county fair, Fireball cinnamon whiskey – for the first time – and on a shotski, bottled ready-to-drink XXI Espresso Martinis with a low ABV, Eddie got his hands on a canned Ciroc sparkling with Pina Colada flavors, my favorite low ABV canned cocktails by Chaco Flaco, Ignite Vodka was creamy and well balanced, and everything from Middle West Spirits especially their Dark Pumpernickel Rye – America’s first! Sahara did some food pairings too! Photos of that first night can be seen here.
At The Show
Did you think the pre-event party for the Bar and Restaurant Expo looked like fun? Well…shout outs to the incredible Meltdown Ice Press that will make the perfect sphere without a mess, Ignite Beverage Vodka made from corn that is super smooth, Saltwater Woody Grapefruit Rum was perfect all on its own, Middlewest Straight Aged Whiskey Dark Pumpernickel stole the show again, Royal Harvest Bordeaux Maraschino Cherries that aren’t the overly sweet cocktail cherries you are used to, Bulleit canned Manhattan cocktails, Beatties Distilleries sweet potato vodka and Kurvball BBQ Whiskey…to name a few! If you just want the story in photos click here, many more details are below:
Meltdown Ice Press: Met with Program Manager Tim Seese and Co-President Brian Steere as they mesmerized us with their perfect ice press. The one we currently own sends water all over our counter when we use it, not the Meltdown Ice Press as it has a handy basin to collect the excess water during the pressing and also only takes a minute. They have a single cube maker called VAMOOSE for the press, so having both = you are good to go with perfect “clarity and purity”.
Ignite Beverage Vodka: I liked this creamy, slightly sweet and well-balanced vodka distilled from corn. The company also had a line of tequilas that was very popular at the Expo.Saltwater Woody Grapefruit Rum: This American made rum, with real fruit juice, uses diluted saltwater to cut the proof. Makes for a rum that does have some salinity which is great for us that don’t want a cloyingly sweet spirit.
Saltwater Woody Rums, photo credit Ed Bushman
Middlewest Straight Aged Whiskey Dark Pumpernickel Rye: Middlewest had a great lineup of brown spirits – all “with ties to the Ohio River valley”, vodka and gin. This pumpernickel rye whisky was remarkably tasty. From their website, “Handcrafted from scratch, this signature spirit is made in small batches and barrel aged for over three years in new white American oak casks. It’s America’s first Dark Rye Pumpernickel Whiskey…”
Royal Harvest Bordeaux Maraschino Cherries: From Oregon Cherry Growers I discovered this Royal Harvest brand of Bordeaux Maraschino Cherries. There is the original Maraschino, the shiny red one used in most bars. Then there is the Luxardo dark cherry used in upscale bars. I challenge bars to try this Bordeaux Maraschino – it’s less sweet than the others, darker and frankly simply better tasting. Eddie will be doing a reduction sauce for steak with it too!
Bulleit canned Manhattan cocktails: With nice flavorings and 37.5 ABV, look for this at your local Total Wine store.
Beatties Distilleries sweet potato vodka: Want your plain clear vodka to come with a little bit of flavor? This slightly sweet potato vodka is the ticket.
Kurvball BBQ Whiskey: Tasting this truly was like having a piece of chocolate-covered bacon at the county fair. Later I sampled it in an Old Fashioned and a Bloody Mary, both were outstanding. This would make for a unique tasting, and conversation, at any bar.
PR%F Awards: Running into Executive Director Michele D. Tell at the PR%F booth was a surprise as I’ve been following the PR%F awards on Instagram for some time. Learned that all of their judges are buyers, which makes it extra attractive to spirit and wine brands. Don’t miss flipping through their magazine too.
Honorable Mentions
Soul Premium Cachaca had interesting Umami notes, which made it quite savory, and not a relative of the creamy rum drink that has a similar sounding name.
City Lights Shine is a moonshine made in Las Vegas. They had both the plain and fruit flavors. This is their interesting story, “CLS’s roots come straight out of NASCAR. Our distiller was a NASCAR Official who made the best Moonshine in the South. His partner was a NASCAR driver for over 20 years. Both at the end of their racing journey, decided to partner up and make the best of two worlds collide! What better place than the greatest city in America, Las Vegas, to show the world the best ‘Shine in America.”
The presentation alone of the “gravity infuser” by Stundenglass, a “chilled, water filtered smoke for delicate infusions” will surprise anyone. Make the smoke, then use over a cocktail or a charcuterie plate.
Mixed-Up Mule Canned Cocktail was a very tasty Mule. This description is from their Instagram, “Fresh, wild and delicious flavors made with booze, juice, and agave nectar, that’s it.”
One booth, with bottled spirits labeled under the name Blank Collective, is a graphic design and branding company that will make a private label spirit for you. They do the “development, procurement and productions services under one roof” which I thought was pretty cool.
All Vendors:
- 1 4wardPay
- 2 7shifts Restaurant Employee Scheduling
- 3 Aardvark Straws / Hoffmaster
- 4 AC RadioCom
- 5 Accel Entertainment
- 6 Ace Mystery Shopping
- 7 Adentro
- 8 ADJ Products
- 9 Air Comm Radio
- 10 American Beverage Marketers
- 11 ANUBIS by FACESCAN
- 12 Arryved POS
- 13 Artic Cold Tap
- 14 Associated Agencies Inc
- 15 ATM Headquarters
- 16 ATM Merchant Services
- 17 Atmosphere TV
- 18 Autofry
- 19 Backbar Solutions
- 20 Bar Business Magazine
- 21 BarChefs.com
- 22 Barfly® Mixology Gear
- 23 Bar-I
- 24 Barn Furniture Mart
- 25 BarPay
- 26 BarTrack
- 27 Barventory
- 28 Bbot
- 29 BeatBox Beverages
- 30 Beattie’s Distillers
- 31 Beer Tubes
- 32 Ben’s Friends
- 33 Berg Company
- 34 Bet Booth Inc.
- 35 Billboard Uniforms
- 36 Bissell Commercial
- 37 Black Box
- 38 Blank Collective by Endless West
- 39 Boiron Americas Inc
- 40 Book Tech Labs
- 41 Boundless Beverages
- 42 Cangshan Cutlery Company
- 43 Casa Maestri
- 44 Chaco Flaco
- 45 ChargerGoGo
- 46 Choya Umeshu USA INC
- 47 Citrus America, Inc.
- 48 City Shine
49 Clover
- 50 Coldsell Coolers
- 51 Control Play
- 52 Cool-A-Zone
- 53 CoolooBar
- 54 CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees
- 55 Craft Standard
- 56 CRU Franchising Company
- 57 Daisy Corsets
- 58 D-Color Printing Co
- 59 DEHY Garnish
- 60 Demitri’s Gourmet Mixes
- 61 Devault Enterprises, Inc.
- 62 Diageo
- 63 Digital Signage Experience
- 64 DJ Trivia & DJ Bingo
- 65 Drinique
- 66 East West Embroidery
- 67 Easy Tomorrow
- 68 Edwards Technologies
- 69 El Oro del Agave
- 70 El Yucateco Hot Sauces
- 71 ELMECO
- 72 ELO Touch Solutions
- 73 Emuamericas, llc
- 74 Enovation Brands Inc.
- 75 ERC Specialists
- 76 Essexx Collection Inc
- 77 Excel Dryer
- 78 FETCO
- 79 Flip Tray Co LLC
- 80 Focus POS Systems
- 81 Food and Beverage Magazine
- 82 Frosty Factory of America
- 83 Frylow
- 84 Funovation
- 85 G&G Closed Circuit Events
- 86 GC Pro
- 87 Ghost Ice
- 88 Ghost Tequila
- 89 Grandstand
- 90 Gravity Beverage
- 91 Greenprint
- 92 Grosfillex
- 93 GuestQueue
- 94 Happy Boy Distributor, Inc.
- 95 Heartland
- 96 Heineken Corporation
- 97 Holsag (Mity Inc)
- 98 Homia
- 99 Hormel Foodservice
- 100 Hoshizaki America, Inc. / Lancer
- 101 Howler Head Kentucky Banana Bourbon (Wooler Brands)
- 102 Hypemakerz
- 103 iCashout
- 104 Ice-O-Matic
- 105 Idiosyncratic Marketing
- 106 IDScan.net
- 107 Ignite
- 108 IGPM Distribution
- 109 Illuminated Trees
- 110 Industry Codes
- 111 Jackson Warewashing Systems
- 112 JetChill-Theatrical Molecular Mixology & Gastronomy
- 113 Joe Hand Promotions Inc
- 114 Jumbo Stuffed Tater Kegs
- 115 KBEAN
- 116 King of Sparklers
- 117 Kold Draft
- 118 Koloa Rum Company
- 119 Koolmax Monitoring Technology and Soda Gun Jetter
- 120 Last Call Trivia
- 121 Leslie
- 122 LineLeap
- 123 LIQS
- 124 Liquid Ice Energy Drink
- 125 LloydPans
- 126 LMD LLC
- 127 Lola Soap
- 128 Luxury Electronics
- 129 Manitowoc Ice
- 130 Marqii
- 131 Matador Foods
- 132 McGrath Events + A/V Services
- 133 me&u
- 134 MEGA-LITE
- 135 Meltdown
- 136 Melvin Brewing
- 137 Mexcor International Wine & Spirits
- 138 Middle West Spirits
- 139 Middleby Corporation
- 140 Middleton Mixology
- 141 Mighty Swell Spiked Seltzers
- 142 MistAmerica
- 143 Mixed-Up Mules by Little Toad Creek Distillery
- 144 Mobile Training
- 145 Moyer Diebel
- 146 Mr. Black Industry
- 147 NASA Searchlights
- 148 Navori
- 149 NEFT V odka
- 150 Nightcap
- 151 Nightclub Security Consultants
- 152 North American Beverage Company
- 153 Nouveau Creations
- 154 NuCO2
- 155 Ole Smoky Distillery
- 156 Open Water
- 157 Orange Door
- 158 Ovation Up
- 159 Ovention Inc
- 160 Pacific Coast Producers
- 161 Partender
- 162 PatronScan
- 163 PayFacto
- 164 Perlick Corporation
- 165 phade by Wincup
- 166 Pizcadores
- 167 PlantSwitch
- 168 Plate IQ
- 169 PMQ Pizza Magazine
- 170 Polycade
- 171 Precision Pours Inc.
- 172 Price Chopper Wristbands
- 173 Provi
- 174 QubicaAMF Bowling
- 175 RD USA
- 176 Reachify
- 177 Red Top Farms Powered by Premier Proteins
- 178 Redfern Enterprises Inc
- 179 Religion Tequila
- 189 Restaurant Technologies
- 190 RevoSpin
- 191 RFALV Services
- 192 Richtech Robotics
- 193 Ripples
- 194 Robot Coupe
- 195 Rockless Table
- 196 Roxi Spice
- 197 RX Music
- 198 Saltwater Woody Rum
- 199 SAVI x LG
- 200 Sayersbrook Bison Ranch
- 201 Sazerac
- 202 Scotsman
- 203 SevenRooms
- 204 Shift4
- 205 Shot Caller
- 206 Siempre Tequila
- 207 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- 208 Singa Karaoke
- 209 Sip Shine
- 210 Skechers USA Inc.
- 211 Skybox Sports Network
- 212 SlingStir
- 213 Smart Bar USA
- 214 SmartTab POS
- 215 Sound Stage Systems
- 216 SoundTube Entertainment
- 217 Sovereign Brands, LLC
- 218 Specifi Global
- 219 Spectrio
- 220 Spiked Boozy Sorbets
- 221 SpotOn
- 222 Sprockets
- 223 StarMed Benefits
- 224 Strategic Tax Planning
- 225 Stündenglass
- 226 Sunday App
- 227 Sunkist Foodservice Equipment
- 228 Sweet Mesquite Bakery
- 229 Tagrisk Insurance Services
- 230 Tailgating Specialties
- 231 Tar Foods
- 232 Ten of Twelve, LLC
- 233 The Cawley Company
- 234 The Fan’s Place
- 235 The Foghat Cocktail Smoker
- 236 The Kurvball Whiskey Company
- 237 The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley
- 238 Tiki Farm
- 239 TiNDLE
- 240 T-Mobile
- 241 Toast
- 242 Topo Chico
- 243 Total Touch Point of Sale
- 244 Trident Beverage/ Lazy Bay
- 245 True Brands
- 246 True Manufacturing Co. Inc.
- 247 Tubeaux
- 248 U R Stickers/Marketing Ideas Group
- 249 Uber Eats
- 250 Ultimate Bars
- 251 United Standard POS
- 252 UrthPact
- 253 US BeerSAVER Systems INC
- 254 US Bowling Corporation
- 255 Userve Inc.
- 256 Valley Dynamo
- 257 Virtual Dining Concepts-MrBeast Burger
- 258 VITO Fryfilter
- 259 VividLite Wireless LED Lighting
- 260 White Claw Hard Seltzer
- 261 Wonkyware
- 262 Wristband Resources
- 263 Wynn
- 264 WyreStorm
- 265 XXI Martinis
- 266 ZLight Technology
The Bar & Restaurant Expo announced the winners of the 2022 Industry Excellence Awards during a special awards ceremony. The Industry Excellence Awards, sponsored by sunday, recognize, celebrate, and support the people who make the independent bar and restaurant industry great.
The award recipients were selected by a panel of expert judges based on their talent, integrity and commitment to equality, sustainability, community, and culture across the industry. The Industry Excellence Awards are dedicated to recognizing, celebrating, and supporting the companies and individuals who make the independent bar and restaurant industry great.
2022 Winners of the Industry Excellence Awards:
- Bartender of the Year- Josh Davis, Brown & Balanced, IL
- A bartender of exemplary performance, skill, and dedication, both behind the bar and beyond it. This person has worked tirelessly to improve their bar program, their bar culture, and the industry at large, serving as a positive example for other beverage professionals.
- Chef of the Year- Rhonda McCullar, Uchi Dallas, TX
- A chef who has dedicated themselves to culinary excellence, as well as sustainable, ethical practices and inclusive culture. This individual sets high personal and professional standards for food professionals across the industry, behind the pass and beyond it.
- Cocktail Bar of the Year- well, Austin, TX
- A cocktail bar that consistently demonstrates exceptional hospitality, creativity, training, culture and service. The Cocktail Bar of the Year has a unique identity and has established itself as a leader within the category.
- Community Leadership Awards- Jeremy and Natalee Price, Taste of Tuscany Ristorante, CA
- This award is open to anyone in F&B who has demonstrated outstanding contributions and dedication to bettering their local community, and by extension, the F&B community at large.
- Innovator of the Year- Christie Lawler, The WITI Group, TXAND Lindsey Johnson, Lush Life Productions, NY
- This award is open to anyone in F&B who tirelessly moves the industry forward, pushing existing boundaries and establishing new foundations for the industry to build upon that are both equitable and sustainable.
- LGBTQ Venue of the Year- Downtown Olly’s, Indianapolis, IN
- This bar or restaurant consistently delivers exceptional hospitality, creativity and service, while championing the LGBTQ community. The LGBTQ Venue of the year fully epitomizes what it means to be an LGBTQ Venue and has a demonstrated history of supporting the queer community.
- Most Original Concept- Cosmic Gorilla, Cincinnati, OH
- A new or rebranded bar or restaurant that breaks the mold of convention, creating an exciting, new standard likely to make a significant impact in years to come. (Must have launched or re-branded in 2021)
- Operator of the Year- Barbara Sibley, La Palpa / Holiday Cocktail Bar, NY
- A bar/restaurant owner dedicated to exemplary hospitality, creative entrepreneurship, ethical business practices and the betterment of the industry at large. This person serves as a role model, paving the way for a better future for F&B.
- Restaurant of the Year- Lumi, San Diego, CA
- A restaurant that consistently demonstrates exceptional hospitality, creativity, culture and service. This venue boasts a unique atmosphere, thoughtful F&B offerings, and a training program. The Restaurant of the Year has established itself as a leader in the community and has made a significant impact within the industry.
- Sports Bar of the Year- Dawg House Saloon & Sports Book, Las Vegas, NV
- A place that embodies the spirit of the category, including excellence across design, F&B offerings, training, events and community engagement. The Sports Bar of the Year has a unique brand identity and has established itself as a leader within the category.
The winners were presented with a beautiful custom award and a VIP Ticket to attend the Expo in 2023. Winners are also eligible to become part of the judging panel moving forward.
For more information about the 2022 Bar & Restaurant Expo, visit barandrestaurantexpo.com. Bar and Restaurant Expo will return to Las Vegas on March 27-29, 2023.
About Bar & Restaurant Expo
Bar & Restaurant Expo, formerly known as Nightclub & Bar Show, has continued to evolve to mirror the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the hospitality industry. The event has been providing the specific tools that bar and restaurant owners, operators, and managers need to grow their businesses, compete, and succeed in this hyper-competitive and dynamic industry. The Bar & Restaurant Group is a division of the Questex Hospitality Group which also produces VIBE Conference, World Tea Conference & Expo, and daily content on barandrestaurant.com. Follow Bar & Restaurant on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest industry news and trends.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
