On March 13, Datz Tampa bartender Morgan Zuch beat out seven other contestants in the Star of the Bar Miami regional semi-finals at Barton G restaurant. A mixology competition, Star of the Bar has regional semi-finals in Boston, Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, and Miami where bartenders make their best cocktails for a judging panel of locals. Finalists from these cities then travel to Chicago on May 21 for the big showdown at Bar 17, a major bar and alcoholic beverage event, to compete for the Star of the Bar title and $5,000 grand prize. Their cocktails will be judged by 2014 World Class Bartender of the Year Charles Joy and Tony Abou-Ganim, author of Modern Mixology. Not only is Zuch representing the Tampa Bay area, but she is also the first female bartender to win a Star of the Bar regional competition.
Zuch stole the competition in Miami with her creation, the Perky Peach, a delicious tequila-based cocktail inspired by St. Petersburg’s farmers’ market. Her winning cocktail blends peach and coffee flavors with coffee-infused honey, créme de pêche, cold brew, and orange bitters. Poured over a smoked ice sphere, it is topped off with a pickled peach garnish. Zuch served the Perky Peach on a wood plank with whole coffee beans and fresh peaches, making this cocktail a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Not surprisingly, she has also created original cocktails for Datz, including the Dunk This Donut, a coffee-inspired cocktail garnished with a sugar-coated, housemade mini donut.
Star of the Bar isn’t Zuch’s first rodeo; she’s won Creative Loafing’s Margarita Wars in 2014 and 2016 as well as Thatcher’s Spirits USBG TAMPA Competition. Zuch is also certified in BarSmarts Advanced, Level One Cicerone and Sommelier. With her knowledge and experience as well as her creativity, Zuch definitely has a good chance at winning the title Star of the Bar in Chicago this May.
