The 2025 NCRLA Chef Showdown Mixology Competition contestants this year definitely didn’t come to play, they came to pour! I‘ve already shared the tea on the Western NC preliminary round held at Piccione Vineyards tasting room here. The Eastern NC preliminary round went down on Monday, April 28, 2025. The venue: the vibey, spirit-soaked setting of End of Days Distillery in Wilmington, NC.
The End of Days team played the perfect host, no surprise there. The Lounge, End of Days Distillery’s premier craft cocktail bar is a hot spot in Wilmington, NC. It’s also the home turf of Gus Bellavida, last year’s People’s Choice winner for Best Cocktail, pictured here with End of Days co-owner, Beth Faulkner.
You may remember the purple foam topped blend, called the “Country Wonka” made with Port of Entry Rum, NC Sweet Corn Chicha (NC Corn, NC Apples, Thyme, Star Anise), NC Sweet Potato and Cinnamon Cordial, and Lime Juice.
And if walls could talk, I’m sure the ones at EOD would be buzzing about this year’s Eastern NC preliminary round lineup.
Here’s the Eastern NC Mixology Preliminary Line up
Nine talented teams, each one a dynamic duo of a North Carolina mixologist and a North Carolina distiller, brought big energy, creative chemistry, and a shared passion for local ingredients. From botanical-forward gin creations to bold bourbon-laced sippers, the day was packed with flavor, finesse, and a splash of friendly competition.
- Natalie Takacs + Ryan Spencer | End of Days Distillery, Wilmington
- Kelsey Marshall + Derek Vanderhoeven | Lonerider Spirits, Wake Forest
- Travis James | Julep Contemporary Kitchen + Bret Olivero | CRUSH, Greenville
- Ashley Sarkis | Yunta, Charlotte + Jack Shutes | Oaklore Distilling Co., Matthews
- Kevin Moore | 34° North, Beaufort + Richard Chapman | Bogue Sound Distillery, Bogue
- Sarah McCabe | The Longleaf Hotel + Kelly Murphy | Cook’s Mill Whiskey, Raleigh
- Kieran Raines | Revival 1869, Clayton + Tony Orsone | Kill Devil Rum, Manteo
- Meggan Mendoza + Bruce Tyler | Weldon Mills Distillery, Durham
- Kayla Wenzel | Native Fine Diner, Greenville + Nick Sanders | 1000 Piers Gin, Washington
Let’s just say, it was less of a competition and more of a cocktail concert, with each team bringing their own tempo and style. Some riffs were smoky and sultry, others bright and botanical, and all of them rooted in the vibrant flavors of North Carolina spirits, proteins and produce.
At the Judges Table, presented by Crude Bitters
- Stephanie Elliott – 2023 Mixologist of the Year, co-owner of Merle’s & Tasting Room manager at Piccione Vineyards, both in Wilkes County
- Amy Waas – co-owner Bar Beej at Cheeni, 2025 James Beard semifinalist for Best New Bar in Durham NC
- Esteban McMahan – co-owner Top of the Hill Brewery & restaurant & TOPO Organic Spirits, both in Chapel Hill, NC
Couldn’t Do It with our Chef Showdown Mixology Competition Sponsors…
Props to the dream team at TownePlace Suites Hotel Wilmington & Wrightsville Beach for hosting our team and judges in comfort.
And a mille mercis to True Blue Butcher & Table and Blue Cup Coffee, both locally owned in Wilmington for fueling everyone throughout the day between rounds of cocktails and mocktails.
Follow along the NCRLA Chef Showdown social media on instagram and Facebook for more about all of these Wilmington NC based businesses.
The Next Round’s on Them…
Meet the 10 Mixology Semifinalists Moving on to Regionals!
Now that both preliminary rounds of the 2025 NCRLA Mixology Competition are officially in the books, it’s time to raise a glass to the ten incredible teams advancing to the regional rounds this July. These top-scoring teams wowed the judges and earned their spot in the next phase of the competition, as semifinalists on the road to the Grand Finale in August.
Each semifinalist team features one North Carolina-based mixologist paired with a distillery crafting spirits right here in-state. They’ll go shaker to shaker once again this July, competing at one of two regional rounds:
- Western NC Regional Round – Chemist Spirits, Asheville
- Eastern NC Regional Round – Native Fine Diner, Greenville
For Regionals, each team will mix up two new drinks: one cocktail, one mocktail, both built around their partner distillery’s products and using even more locally sourced NC ingredients.
Loving all the Locally Sourced
In the two preliminary rounds of mixology competition alone, competitors incorporated over 140 Got To Be NC ingredients. From produce and preserves to syrups, salts, and shrubs. Can you say farm-to-glass?
And Now, Here’s who’s moving on to Mix it Up in the Regional Rounds
- Ashley Sarkis | Yunta, Charlotte + Oaklore Distilling Co., Matthews
- Connor Schlosser | Folia, Charlotte + Chemist Spirits, Asheville
- Kayla Wenzel | Native Fine Diner, Greenville + 1000 Piers Gin / Hackney Distillery, Washington
- Lauren Burkert | Free Range Brewing, Charlotte + Great Wagon Road Distilling, Charlotte
- Meggan Mendoza | Weldon Mills Distillery, Durham + Weldon Mills Distillery
- Natalie Takacs | End of Days Distillery, Wilmington + End of Days Distillery
- Sarah McCabe | The Longleaf Hotel, Raleigh + Cook’s Mill Whiskey, Raleigh
- Sean Teague | Chiefs Cocktail Bar, Charlotte + Southern Artisan Spirits, Kings Mountain
- Sekani Akunyun | Lorem Ipsum, Charlotte + Mystic Farm & Distillery, Durham
- Travis James | Julep Contemporary Kitchen, Greenville + CRUSH Vodka, Greenville
And here’s what they made in the prelims:
The cocktail creativity continues in July; but in the meantime, we’ve still got plenty of culinary competitions cooking. The Chef Showdown preliminary culinary rounds are happening throughout May and June at some of the state’s top community college culinary schools, with two regional culinary showdowns coming in late June.
Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes sips, bites, and bold ideas from across the state. And if you haven’t already, follow along with the NCRLA Chef Showdown social feeds and my feeds as well ( @HeidiBillotto on instagram and @Heidi Billotto Cooks on Facebook); for real-time coverage, chef spotlights, recipes, and maybe a few sneak peeks of what’s pouring next.
Cheers to all the competitors, semifinalists, and North Carolina distillers raising the bar (literally and figuratively) at every turn! We can’t wait till July!
In the meantime, go to all of these bars and restaurants; support these local mixologists and wish them well in the competition.
And then, go to your local ABC store and buy these local sprits – or, better yet, go to the tasting rooms, take the distillery tours ( its fascinating) and support these local GotTobeNC producers on their home turf as well.
And don’t forget, be sure to #TellThemHeidiSentYou