Rye's Up fundraiser at B&O

On Sunday night I got to attend the inaugural event of the Baltimore Bartenders' Guild (BBG), which was the "Rye's Up Against Cystic Fibrosis" Gala at B&O American Brasserie. The BBG, a group started by a handful of bartenders to promote craft cocktails, hosted the fundraiser that lasted from 6-9 p.m. and featured restaurants and bars that had to make a cocktail using Bulleit rye. There was also a live jazz band and silent auction.

Each cocktail was voted on by patrons and guests judges. Participating restaurants included Woodberry Kitchen, TEN TEN, Bad Decisions, Brewer's Art, and RYE. We even got to sample the offerings of Frederick's on Fleet, the new cocktail bar replacing Tyson's in Canton, which is set to open April 1.

My favorites included a cocktail made with beets done by Brewer's Art and the Copperhead from RYE, which included blood orange gastrique, Yellow Chartreuse, and bitters. But, shows what I know, because neither of those cocktails won.

At the end of the event, BBG president and B&O bar manager Brendan Dorr announced that they had raised $1,350 for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland that night. He also announced the two winning cocktails. The people's choice award went to Adrian Ross-Boon at Wit & Wisdom with the Madhattan (Bulleit, Amaro Nonino liqueur, and Antica vermouth). And the judge's pick was Anna Welker from B&O with the Galavanter (Bulleit, Falernum syrup, St. Germain liqueur, dry vermouth, and grapefruit bitters).

To read more about cocktail clubs starting up around town, pick up the March issue of Baltimore magazine.

[Image: courtesy of Baltimore Bartenders' Guild]