Welcome       View Entries       Finalists       Live Event   
 
Finalists
 
These are the top 5 Finalists.
 
Status Finalist
Finalist
   
 
   
 
Business Name:  Convivo
Cocktail Name:  Lucky Me
Ingredients:  Thyme Sprig
Pernod Absinthe Rinse
.25oz Manzanilla Sherry
.25oz Fresh Lime Juice
.75oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1.5oz Grilled Strawberry Syrup
.5oz Cutler's 33 Bourbon
1.0oz Cutler's Stagecoach Whiskey
Recipe Instructions:  Rub thyme sprig between your palms and place into shaker tin that has been rinsed lightly with Absinthe. Build remaining ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish.
Drink Description:  'Lucky Me' encompasses Convivo. Strawberry's from Andrew Sunrise Organics grilled over white oak, the citrus and Manzanilla evoke the gentle ocean breeze, thyme from BD, locally distilled bourbon and whiskey from Ian at Cutlers.
Tasting Notes:  We grill our strawberries over a live wood fire, a hallmark flavor component of Convivo's menu, to impart a smoky quality and caramelize the natural sugars in the berries. Manzanilla sherry joins the line up as a delicate reference to the sweet yet brine-y sea breeze that rolls off East Beach on a warm summer night. Thyme and a whisper of absinthe bring a subtle herbaceous note to round out a beverage meant to remind you how lucky we are to live in Santa Barbara.
The Backstory:  The ‘Lucky Me’ not only represents the tastes and smells of Santa Barbara but also the aspect of community that is so easy to find in Santa Barbara.

The strawberries we use are sourced from Andrew Gibson of Sunrise Organic Farms, who can often be found enjoying Sunday Brunch at Convivo and is always a willing 'taste tester' of potential additions to the cocktail program. The thyme comes from BD Dautch of Earthtrine Farms, a fixture of early organic farming in Santa Barbara and hallmark of the SB farmers markets. And of course the spirits lovingly distilled by Ian Cutler are the perfect base.
How does your drink embody the spirit of SB?:  In keeping in line with beautiful Santa Barbara, our cocktail brings together the elements of our perfect beach town. These are the ingredients that bring our community together: our families, friends, purveyors, farmers, distillers, and visitors. This is our way of giving back to the our community that we love so much.

Finalist
   
 
Business Name:  Angel Oak Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Hotel
Cocktail Name:  The Glen Annie
Ingredients:  1.5 OZ White Peppercorn-Parsley Infused Cutler's Vodka
.75 OZ Tangerine-Fennel Shrub
.25 OZ Lemon Juice
.50 OZ Lemongrass Simple Syrup
spray of Green Chartreuse

Garnish: Fennel Frond
Recipe Instructions:  Combine all ingredients; except for the Green Chartreuse, in shaker with large ice cubes, shake and strain over rocks into Collins glass. Insert Fennel Frond into glass and spray top of cocktail with Green Chartreuse.
Drink Description:  An herbal and citrus delight that both refreshes and invigorates. The main player here is the spice and herb infused Cutler's Vodka. That is held up firmly by the simultaneously thirst-quenching and thirst-provoking qualities of the Tangerine and Fennel Shrub; made using locally sourced citrus and herbs. Lemongrass Syrup and Lemon Juice bind it all together bringing forth a coordinated dance-party of flavors that mingle and swing across the palate making it difficult not to ask for "one more dance".
Tasting Notes:  Citrus and Herbal with just enough sweetness to support the herb and spice notes with the naturally mild sweetness of Cutler's 100% non-GMO corn Vodka. Initially it's the aromatics of the Chartreuse scented fennel frond mingling with the subtle citrus notes rising from within the cocktail itself. Then its the sharp and refreshing tang of tangerine blended with the fennel and champagne vinegar in our house-made Tangerine-Fennel Shrub. Finally, the spice and herb notes swirl through it all and complete the experience. Then it begins all over again as your palate commands you to take another sip...and another.
The Backstory:  Named for the ranch built by William Hollister where he cultivated exotic gardens and hosted lavish parties. W.W. Hollister was passionate about horticulture and we wanted to showcase an herbal and citrus forward cocktail that would evoke nostalgia of grand picnics the likes of which were once hosted by Colonel Hollister himself.
How does your drink embody the spirit of SB?:  The Glen Annie should inspire thoughts of wide open spaces, clean ocean air and an array of wild herbs and citrus; just the way it must have felt when W.W. Hollister built his famous ranch in 1862.

Finalist
   
 
Business Name:  Finch & Fork
Cocktail Name:  Eucalyptus Lane
Ingredients:  Cutler’s Artisanal Gin, Ojai Pixie Tangerine, Foraged Eucalyptus Bitters, Hilltop and Canyon Farms Lemon, Ginger, Dolin Blanc Vermouth, Soda, Sea Salt, Eucalyptus – Ojai Pixie Air
Recipe Instructions:  Combine ingredients in tin, hard shake, add soda to tin, double strain into Collins glass, top with air.
Drink Description:  The Eucalyptus Lane is a bright, refreshing aperitivo style cocktail.
Tasting Notes:  The sweet tang of Ojai’s renowned Pixie Tangerines compliments the floral notes of Cutler’s Artisinal Gin while ginger provides a subtle bite alongside the rejuvenating aromatics of local eucalyptus.
The Backstory:  Santa Barbara is currently in a state of cultural transition. The world has discovered our unassuming oasis town, and everyone wants a chance to leave their mark. While change can feel unnerving, the spirit of Santa Barbara has always been one of an open mind and a warm welcome.
How does your drink embody the spirit of SB?:  The ingredients of this cocktail focus on species introduced to our area, which then flourished in Santa Barbara’s environment. Eucalyptus, an initially invasive species, has become synonymous with our scenic coastline. The woodsy aroma delicately compliments our town’s crisp and salty coastal air. Grown right in our backyard, Ojai Pixies are widely regarded as the top shelf of tangerines. Introduced to the soil of Ojai in the 1960's, farmers discovered that the Pixie Tangerine took on stunning flavors in the climate and soil of Ojai. Like these ingredients, many of our personal favorite spots around town exist due to a fresh perspective on Santa Barbara from folks who have assimilated from elsewhere. Our intention with the Eucalyptus Lane is to embody Santa Barbara’s history, which has contributed to the home we now know and love.

Finalist
   
 
Business Name:  The Lark
Cocktail Name:  Sticky Fingers
Ingredients:  1.5oz bay laurel infused Cutler's gin/mezcal
1oz fresh lemon juice
.5oz avocado blossom honey
.5oz Amaro Meletti
2 dash orange flower water
avocado leaf
Recipe Instructions:  Combine 1.5oz bay laurel infused gin/mezcal, 1oz fresh lemon juice, .5oz avocado blossom honey, .5oz Amaro Meletti, 2 dash orange flower water, into mixing tin, add ice, shake, double strain over a large rock, garnish with avocado leaf
Drink Description:  Bay Laurel infused gin, mezcal, avocado blossom honey, amaro, lemon
Tasting Notes:  Flavors of fresh bay laurel approach with the first sip, bright, herbal, and slight eucalyptus. These notes extend the juniper from the gin. Next the citrus and mint notes of the mezcal come through with a slight smoked agave background. Amaro Meletti extends the honeyed notes but adds a balance of bitterness and herb. The rich and floral avocado honey balances the bright acid of the lemon allowing a harmonious expression of Santa Barbara terroir. Pair with grilled poultry with herb dressing.
The Backstory:  Mixologist, Nick Priedite, crafts cocktails to sip and enjoy but also to provide a full experience for the senses. Sticky Fingers is no exception. Incorporating the theme "how does this embody the spirit of SB" was a challenge he could not resist. Utilizing mezcal (an ode to SB's Spanish roots) with lemon, honey, and avocado (an ode to today's Santa Barbara), his Sticky Fingers is the perfect experience for all the senses.
How does your drink embody the spirit of SB?:  This cocktail was created not only as a reflection of Santa Barbara’s terroir but as a definitive cocktail embracing both the natural landscape of California and its cocktail landscape. From a natural perspective, the bay laurel and honey are both grown and harvested, respectively, here in Santa Barbara. Cutler’s gin has become a particular expression of Santa Barbara by utilizing local botanicals, creating a flavor unique to us. Mezcal, being derived from agave, a plant that has not only been a domestic species of California, but has become a topic of environmental conservation, embodies the past, present, and future of California, both through agriculture and spirits. These individual ingredients are products of our environment, but combined as a whole, reflect a composed, elegant, and delicious reflection of Santa Barbara and the California coast.

Finalist
   
 
Business Name:  Finney's Crafthouse & Kitchen
Cocktail Name:  The Queen's Rose
Ingredients:  Cutlers Gin
Rose Petal Infused Simple Syrup
Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
Campari
Pineapple Juice
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Recipe Instructions:  Combine .75 oz of Red Rose Petal infused simple syrup, 5 oz of Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice, .5 oz of Campari, .25 oz. of pineapple juice, .25 oz. of St. Germain Elderflower Liquor, 1.5 oz. of Cutler's Gin into mixing tin, add ice, shake and strain over a coupe glass, garnish with a Red Rose Petal.
Drink Description:  "The Queen's Rose" uses rose petal infused syrup to give a floral sweetness that works with the bitterness from the Campari to create a flavor unfamiliar to the palate, yet a refreshing delectable cocktail.

Tasting Notes:  Bitter with a floral sweetness. Pairs well with our coconut shrimp and buffalo cauliflower.
The Backstory:  Since opening, our bar manager and mixologist, Michael Blackburn, has been working to create a cocktail that embodies Santa Barbara. After looking into the many notable aspects of what makes our town so special, Michael was inspired to honor the "Queen of Missions" and the iconic rose garden located directly outside.
How does your drink embody the spirit of SB?:  Many have described the Santa Barbara Mission as the most beautiful and best preserved of all Spanish missions located in California, therefore it has earned its name, "The Queen of the Missions", inspiring the name of our cocktail.

Located directly outside the Mission, is the iconic rose garden that has received accreditation by the All-America Rose Selections Committee. It has been recognized in the past as one of the top rose gardens in the nation for its maintenance and beauty of location, and many of the roses that can be found in the garden are past award winners.

We believe our cocktail, "The Queen's Rose" channels the spirit of Santa Barbara through its inspiration. The drink embodies SB by using our original rose petal infused simple syrup working with locally produced Cutler's Gin to represent the beautiful rose garden located outside the "Queen of Missions".

 
   Official Rules      Help      Feedback   

Official Drink of Santa Barbara Cocktail Contest

    Powered by © UPICKEM    All rights reserved.