Kevin Hart Ends Summer with Coramino Cup 2024 – Essence

The summer season ended with an ideal farewell to an unforgettable mix of music, comedy and culture led by Kevin Hart’s global media company, Hartbeat. For 4 days, Resorts World Las Vegas was the middle of Hartbeat Weekend 2024. Among the various attractions was Coramino Cupwhich took place on Friday, August 30, putting the bartending world on a grand stage.

Presented by Gran Coramino Tequila, the Coramino Cup brought together six talented finalists: Anthony Wells of Delilah in Los Angeles, Paul Gamez of Moes in Chicago, Barrymore “Bud” Shaw of The Montauk in Phoenix, Madison Sperry of Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami, Monica Fung of Foundation Room in Las Vegas and Jahmaal Gross of Tao in Las Vegas. In the ultimate round, Shaw, Wells and Gross faced off, with each competitor serving up creative cocktails under the watchful eye of judges Chai Lee – winner of the inaugural Coramino Cup – Wendy Hodges and Gina Farrell.

Shaw, a bartender with 16 years of experience, emerged victorious. Reflecting on his profession, he said, “I’ve been doing this for over 16 years. I just fell in love with the art of cocktail design—I just love making people happy, making good drinks.” His dedication and keenness earned him not only the title, but in addition a $10,000 prize, a gig at , and a yr-long contract to bartend exclusive Kevin Hart events, from live shows to red carpet events.

The event also make clear the underrepresentation of individuals of color within the bartending industry. Gross shared his perspective on the necessity for more diversity. “I’ve worked in a lot of places where I was the only person who looked like me. In terms of overall representation, there’s a shortage.” He emphasized that with more representation, biases could possibly be challenged, especially noting the unlucky stereotypes he’s witnessed while working with colleagues who aren’t African-American.

Founded by Hart and Juan Domingo Beckmann, an eleventh-generation tequila producer, the Coramino Cup goals to acknowledge the toughest working bartenders within the industry. The competition tests not only cocktail-making skills but in addition charisma, precision and overall presence, providing a stage for bartenders to showcase their talents.

Hartbeat Weekend wasn’t limited to bartending, though. The event featured musical performances from stars like Lil Wayne, Ludacris, and Saweetie, in addition to comedy from Hart himself, who brought his tour to Resorts World Theatre. Additional entertainment included recordings of and , which highlighted a few of the most effective stand-up comedians of the day.

The weekend was a star-studded affair, with attendees including Janelle Monáe, Akon, Bryson Tiller and more. From daytime events at Ayu Dayclub to after-parties at Zouk Nightclub, Hartbeat Weekend 2024 delivered an exciting mixture of culture, creativity and celebration, ending the summer on an exclamation point and constructing anticipation for next yr’s festivities.