Calling all bartenders! Registration is now open for the annual Park City Area Restaurant Association summer cocktail contest. Mixologists who think they’ve got what it takes to craft the top cocktail of the season are invited to sign up for a chance to be crowned Park City’s top bartender and take home $200 and other perks.
Starting July 1, drink enthusiasts will have four weeks to sample and then vote online for their favorite libations, rating each they taste on a 1-to-10 scale, judging both flavor and presentation. Online voting will run through July 31 on the PCARA website.
Last year, Brass Tag’s Evangeline took first place, with an average score of 10 out of 10, earning top marks for its refreshing blend of Beehive Distillery Jackrabbit Gin, cassis vinegar, basil-infused Utah honey, rose lemonade and a garnish or lemon strings and a basil leaf.
Last year’s winner, Brass Tag’s ‘Evangeline’
More than 10,500 votes were cast in the contest.
“Online voting was a huge success last year and so much fun,” PCARA executive director Ginger Ries said. “We are very excited to see how this summer’s contest unfolds, and we can’t wait to crown the winner.”
In the online-voting format, everyone gets a chance to participate, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to help choose Park City’s summer cocktail champion – and of course one more reason to visit the participating bars and restaurants to sample all the entries.
“Any PCARA bar and restaurant can enter, and any patron can vote,” Ries said. “We think this approach works out really well for both our members and for all their guests — and we’re especially looking forward to tasting each of the entries.”
The winning cocktail and its creator will be featured in a marketing campaign following the contest leading into PCARA’s popular fall Dine About event. He or she will also walk away with a cash prize and some serious bragging rights.
