If you thought college basketball was exciting then you should check out the madness that happened earlier this March in the battle for the best bartender on Long Island!

 

After over 170,000 votes were cast, the competition, held by news outlet Greater Long Island, whittled down 16 sweet nominees to just two.

 

Dan Bartley from Mary Carroll’s in Babylon faced off against Dan Leopold from Sandbar in Cold Spring Harbor in a final cocktail-making competition at That Meetball Place in Patchogue on Tuesday, March 21.

 

The competition was the brainchild of Mike White, publisher over at Greater Long Island. He said that he wanted the competition to create a buzz for Long Island bartenders and have a little fun during March Madness.

 

“We also wanted to help spotlight the service industry and the talented folks behind the bar during the slower months,” he said.

 

Interest in the competition was much better than they expected.

 

“I was blown away by the response,” he said.

 

In the final round the two Dans made three cocktails that were rated by three judges in a grudge match that actually came down to the very last drink, according to the news outlet’s Instagram page.

 

The cocktails served to the judges included a Sidecar, which is brandy, lemon juice, and orange liqueur, their own take on an Old Fashioned and any type of Margarita.

 

Once the ice settled, Bartley emerged victorious.

 

“Dan Bartley, Long Island’s Clown Prince of slinging drinks, is now Long Island’s Best Bartender,” read the post announcing the victor.

 

The judges. Photo: Greater Long Island.

 

The judges were Gregg Giannotti co-host of the Boomer and Gio show on WFAN, Terri Novak, who operates Braun’s Kitchen in Cutchogue and Bert Wiegand, a bartender at Bay Shore’s The State Room.

 

To celebrate, Batley sipped Moët from his trophy, The Golden Shaker.

 

The winner. Photo: Greater Long Island.

 

“It was also awesome to see the drive and passion all the bartenders brought to the contest,” White said. “It was a grind for everyone involved, for sure, but now we’re resting and gearing up for next year.”

 

They plan to make it an annual thing. The nominations for 2024’s contest opens next January.