The Finals: When the Pour-Offs Became Real

Justin Morales
Dec 26, 2025
3 min read

By the time the doors opened at Fire by Forge, it was already clear this wasn’t just another cocktail competition night.

The bar was packed—shoulder to shoulder with bartenders, industry folks, friends, family, and fans. Competitors from teams already eliminated showed up just to watch. The energy felt less like a bar shift and more like a championship bout. This was the finals of The Pour-Offs CCCL, and everyone in the room knew they were witnessing something special.

The Finals Captured by Bread and Beast Photography

David vs. Goliath (With a Shaker)

On one side stood the powerhouse, second-seeded High Proof Hustlers—a team built on consistency, experience, and composure. Their ride-or-die spirits throughout the season had been Tres Agaves Tequila and Amaro Montenegro, and they weren’t changing course now.

On the other side was the Cinderella story: Taco ’Bout Tipsy, the fourth seed that refused to play the role of underdog. They came in hot—winning or placing in four straight competitions—peaking at exactly the right moment.

It had everything you want in a finale:

Jordyn Carey from Taco Bout Tipsy setting the tone of the night Photo by Bread and Beast Photography

Goliath vs. the giant-slayers
A hot streak vs. a proven machine
Pressure, pride, and a $1,000 prize on the line

Both teams were expertly coached—Tricia Martin of TJ Burritos guiding Taco ’Bout Tipsy, and Renee Strother of High Proof Hustlers, fresh off being named Co-Coach of the Year.

The Battle Begins

ordan from Taco ’Bout Tipsy set the tone early, opening the finals with a bold build featuring Hanson Habanero Vodka—spicy, confident, and fearless.

Then came the Hustlers.

Sabrina stepped up representing Tres Agaves, followed immediately by Renee with Amaro Montenegro. The back-to-back builds fed off the roar of the High Proof Hustlers’ crowd, each pour sharper than the last.

Sabrina Elizabeth from High Proof Hustlers, Photo Captured by Bread and Beast Photography

Taco ’Bout Tipsy saved their anchor for last.

Mary closed the round with a drink built around Up ’n Down Colonel’s Cut 100-Proof Fig Bourbon—rich, layered, and unapologetically strong. It was a closer worthy of the moment.

The room went quiet as the judges deliberated.

“All the drinks were sincerely delicious,” one judge said—and that sentiment echoed across the table.

The Judges’ Table

This season’s judging panel represented the best of Connecticut hospitality, including:

Suzie Johnson, 2024 CRAZIES Bartender of the Year and season-long judge
Judges - Suzie Johnson/Javon Mifflin/Scott Miller Photo by Bread and Beast Photography
Javon Mifflin, General Manager of Fire by Forge
Chef Scott Miller, partner with the DORO Group
Chef Ben Dubow, Fire by Forge
Aaron Stepka, Drink Mechanics
Olivia Olsen, Litchfield Distillery
Dylan Jefferies, Brescome Barton
Shyam Kulkarni, Fruitful Mixology
Victoria Geary, Connecticut Distributors
Paul Mazurek, Trinchero Estates
Kennie Valliere, Rooftop 120
Christopher Hodson, @CookedinConnecticut
Benny Beans, Those Guys Coffee
Jillian Fitzgerald, @HangryThenHappy

A special acknowledgment goes to Nadine Gengras of Connecticut Distributors, whose behind-the-scenes work bridging suppliers and competitors helped make the entire season run smoothly.

And the Winner Is…

hen the scores were finally read, it came down to the slimmest of margins.

Renee Strother form High Proof Hustlers Photo by Bread and Beast Photography

High Proof Hustlers edged out Taco ’Bout Tipsy, proving once again that consistency under pressure wins championships. The room erupted—not just in celebration of a winner, but in respect for two teams that left everything on the bar.