Meet Katie Osborn: The Portland Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic 2017 Champion

OUT caught up with Katie Osborn - the recently crowned Portland Champion in the 2017 Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic - fresh off her win. The Cocktail Classic is Stoli's annual competition to find North America's Number One Bartender. LGBTQ bartenders and allies across the U.S. and Canada will compete to represent their home city on the grand stage of cocktail mixology during Pride Week, June 7-11th, in Key West, Florida. Here's what Katie had to say about the competition.

OUT: Katie, congrats on being named the Portland Champion in the 2017 Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic! How does it feel?

Katie Osborn: Oh man, it's pretty surreal at this moment in time. I knew my competition was fierce and I was just thrilled to participate in general, but to have won...I couldn't be more excited.

You were able to get an edge up on the rest of your Portland competitors with a super creative cocktail, "Sex in the Key West". Can you tell us a little bit about the drink, and your inspiration behind it?

Initially I was playing with a take on the classic Sex on the Beach cocktail, and from there, after playing with different ingredients and Stoli flavors, I decided to branch out a little, while still making a nice, sexy, tasty cocktail utilizing the delicious Stoli Strasberi. The color, aroma and overall look of this cocktail makes me want to find a cabana, a babe and a bar...STAT!

The Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic honors the unique legacy of gay bars as original safe spaces and community centers and the role our bartenders have played as hosts and caretakers throughout history. Tell us about what your role as a nightlife professional means to you.

Portland has a very loving, tight knit community and within my time working at CC Slaughter's (Portland's Premier Gay Nightclub), I have seen nothing but love, which makes it real easy to keep that spirit going. To be able to work at a bar that has such a long and rich history in our community is a privilege and one I don't take lightly. It means a lot to be "your" bartender and I can honestly say I love my job!

As you know, part of your prize for winning the Portland competition is an all-expense-paid trip to Key West, FL this June. Have you ever been to Key West before?

I have not and I am so excited!! It feels like I'm one step closer to becoming the Golden Girl I always knew I could be.

And if you take home the title, you'll be included as the Grand Marshall of the Key West Pride Parade. Have you ever been the Grand Marshall of a parade before?

I have attended my fair share of parades but have never been in one, let alone be the Grand Marshall of one. If that day should ever come, I'll have my "elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist" wave ready to go.

And in Key West, you'll be competing for a chance to win $2,500 to $7,500 for your hand-picked charity, Planned Parenthood. Anything you want to mention on your relationship to that organization, or why you picked it to represent?

Planned Parenthood is such an important organization that provides services that shouldn't be at risk, but they are, and it's mind blowing to me. This organization means so much and does so much for our communities, so I will gladly compete all day, every day for Planned Parenthood.

Any advice (or trash talk!) for your competitors as you head into the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic Finale - June 7th - 12th in Key West, FL?

No trash talk here! I am just so excited to adventure somewhere new, meet new friendly faces from all over the country and serve up some killer Stoli cocktails!

To keep up with Katie and the rest of the action in the 4th Annual Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, visit OUT.com/KeyWestCocktailClassic.