The Battle of the Bartenders will be held on October 10th, 2008 at Sonoma's Veterans Building at 6pm. More than a dozen local restaurants and bars have entered their finest bartenders to compete on stage for this year's title of Best Bartender.
It is not too often you can spend a Friday night drinking with friends, see a show, and catch a great band for only $25. Add to this that every penny goes to charity and this becomes a party too good to pass up. We'll see you there.
The Skinny
All adults 21 years of age or better are invited to attend this year's most enjoyable fundraising event.
The event pits Sonoma's brightest mixology talents against each other for silly trophies and bragging rights in an Iron Bartenter Style challenge.
Each team, consisting of at least one bartender from over a dozen local restaurants and bars, meet on stage in elimination heats to make the best drink they can using a secret ingredient for a panel of judges.
The secret ingredient won't be revealed until they are on stage. Last year the contestants had to come up with drinks on the fly using such diverse ingredients as tamarind puree, papaya, and lychee fruit.
The winner of each heat moves on to a finals heat where the most difficult ingredient is revealed. After the judges have decided, the Best Bartender is crowned.
Attendees
The basic admission is a donation of $25. For this you receive five drink tickets, get to see the show on stage, and then see a band. Last year the Whiskey Thieves performed after the event and this year we are hoping to have them back.
Each competing team is bringing appetizers and a house cocktail for your enjoyment. This is a great opprtunity to try the food at different establishments, meet the bartenders, hobnob with the owners and have a few cocktails for charity.
There will be a silent auction at the event as well so stash a little extra cash or bring your checkbook to get in on the great deals.
For a donation of $50 we are selling VIP level tickets. These tickets include unlimited sampling of each booth's cocktails and admission to the VIP lounge where we will have a bartender set up with a limited well and bottled beers for a nominal donation. All judges are hand picked from VIP level attendees. The selection is random but you must be a VIP to be selected as a judge.
Where can I buy tickets in advance? Click here for a map.
Booze
This event, deep in the Wine Country, has it's focus squarely on Sonoma's mistreated little brother Booze and the people who sling it professionally.
Each participating restaurant has an eclectic and well thought out cocktail list that complements the wine every tourist comes to partake. It is this aspect of a bartender's life that this event showcases.
We want to see who the most creative bartender in town is and we want you to come and witness it.
