Speed Rack Bartending Competition Hits Nashville

This afternoon Speed Rack, the all-female national bartending competition, makes its debut in Nashville, kicking things off at 3 p.m. at Mercy Lounge. In its fifth year, the event, which raises funds for breast cancer charities, features many of the top female bartenders from around the country during its eight-stop tour. Today's event offers plenty of local talent, along with competitors from as far away as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Boise, Idaho:

Alise Marie Alicardi – No. 308, Nashville

Alexandra Anderson – Cane & Table, New Orleans, LA

Emily Burns – Rye on Market, Monnik Beer Company, Louisville, KY

Alexandria Jump – Main Street Meats, Easy Bistro & Bar, Chattanooga, TN

Devon Fiene – Two Ten Jack, Chauhan Ale & Masala House, Butchertown Hall, Nashville

Carley Noel Gaskin – Butcher & Bee, Nashville

Kelsey Hofmann – Rye on Market, Louisville, KY

Kaytie Keck – Red Feather Lounge, Boise, ID

Paige Lane – Grain, Atlanta, GA

Adrienne Miller – Kingfish, New Orleans, LA

Elizabeth Paige Nast – Tap 42, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Jessica Parsons – Habitat Feed and Social, Dave’s Pub, Birmingham, AL

Camille Razo – The Patterson House, Nashville

Alexis Soler – No. 308, Old Glory, Nashville

Britt Soler – No. 308, Old Glory, Nashville

Andrea Tateosian – Urbana, Washington, DC

Emily Wilcher – No. 308, Old Glory, Nashville

Christine Wiseman – Break Room 86, Los Angeles

Melissa Zornes – Union Common, Marathon Music Works, Nashville

Judging them on their speed and accuracy will be Josh Habiger, chef/owner of Bastion; Kate Gerwin, general manager of HSL Hospitality; Misty Kalkofen, the Del Maguey Mezcal Maven; and Marcia Masulla of 12th & Broad.

The event runs from 3 to 7 p.m., with tickets still available online for $20, or $25 at the door. All proceeds go towards breast cancer research and prevention, with the event already raising more than $350,000 since its inception.