Set The Bar Cocktail Competition is a wrap!

This year's annual Set The Bar event, hosted by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, was a huge success. We gathered at Ed Smith Stadium for an incredible time. First, we want to express our gratitude to every person who took part and showed up at this year's event. Thank you to every single one of our member restaurants and their staff who participated! Thank you to the bartenders, the judges, our sponsors, and each person who made this day possible.

 

Set The Bar Cocktail Competition 2022 WINNERS

The community is encouraged to #DrinkLocal during the region’s most “spirited week” from October 23 – October 30, 2022. SMO Cocktail Week is designed to showcase the creative beverage talents behind our area’s independent restaurants.

During SMO Cocktail Week, participating Originals Member Restaurants throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties will feature special offerings, that may include featured cocktails from Set The Bar, limited-time discounts, food and cocktail pairings, mixology classes, unique tasting events, and more!

Let's celebrate our Suncoast’s vibrant and unique cocktail community and support our locally-owned, independent establishments!

Here are the incredible drinks made at Set The Bar that are now available this Cocktail Week!

Gin Category

Powered by Big Storm Distillery

Duval’s | under the GINfluence

Tarragon and ginger infused Big Storm Gin, Lillet Blanc, Bénédictine, citrus shrub, and fresh melon juice, handcrafted into a soda

 

Sandbar | Roselle Swell

Big Storm Gin, Gamble Creek Farms Roselle Syrup, muddled orange, rosemary, shaken & topped with ginger ale

 

Grove | The Peacock

Watermelon infused Big Storm Gin, butterfly pea powder simple syrup, Luxardo Cherry Liqueur, sour mix and club soda

 

Mar Vista | Mar Vista Mermaid

Jalapeno infused Big Storm Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, basil

 

Sage | Tropic Like it’s Hot

Guava Infused Big Storm Gin, kumquat liqueur, house-made blue passion fruit syrup, lemon, lime

 

 

Vodka Category

Powered by Cathead Distillery

Bijou Garden Café | Mississippi Dragon

Cathead Vodka, house-made dragon fruit syrup, pineapple, lime, dragonfruit ice

 

El Melvin | La Muetre de Frida

Mango infused Cathead Vodka, hibiscus infused agave nectar, Bittermen’s 'Elemakule Tiki Bitters, Dolin Blanc Vermouth, mango boba

 

Harry’s Continental Kitchen | Passiflora

Cathead Vodka infused with habanero and blood orange, key lime agave blend, passion fruit nectar, with a tajin rim

 

MADE Restaurant | Let’s Get Tropical

Cathead Vodka, cinnamon-lime oleo, tropical syrup, fresh lime, grated cinnamon

 

Rum Category

Powered by Papa's Pilar Rum

Cafe Gabbiano | Coconut Mai Pie

Papa’s Pilar Rum, Grand Marnier, orgeat, lime juice, topped with coconut cream

 

Jack Dusty | Papa’s Paradise

Grilled pineapple infused Papa’s Pilar Rum, coconut fat washed Aperol, house made pistachio orgeat, tropical elixir, with a tropical passion rim and garnished with dehydrated Aperol cloud

 

JPAN | Yagatarasu - “Crow God”

Oriental tobacco infused Papa’s Pilar Rum, Nux Alpina Walnut Liqueur, honey-apricot-peppercorn syrup, Bittermens Mole Bitters.

 

Pier 22 | Key West Express

Vanilla infused Papa’s Pilar Rum, Coco Real, brown sugar simple syrup, RumChata Liqueur and lime juice. Served in a fresh coconut

 

Pop’s Sunset Grill | Autumn Dreams

Papa’s Pilar Rum, fresh lemon, apple cider, ginger ale, agave syrup

 

Whiskey Category

Powered by Dark Door Spirits

Brick’s Smoked Meats | Pumpkin Old Fashioned

Dark Door Spirit of the Oak Bourbon, Magdala Orange Liquor, maple syrup, pumpkin purée, dash of orange bitters

 

Clasico | Liquid Death

Dark Door Spirit of the Oak Bourbon, charcoal infused house-made espresso liquor, orange bitters, St. George Absinthe, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur

 

Fins at Sharky’s | Passion Fashion

Vanilla infused Dark Door Spirit of the Oak Bourbon, passion fruit purée, simple syrup, passion fruit espuma, coffee powder

 

Mattison’s | Louisville Lassi

Dark Door Spirit of the Oak Bourbon, homemade chai-spice syrup, whole milk vanilla yogurt, with ground nutmeg and mint

 

Michael’s on East | After Dinner Fling

Orange and chocolate bitter infused Dark Door Spirit of the Oak Bourbon, Tia Marie Coffee Liquor, cinnamon simple syrup, topped with an espresso infused cold foam, with fresh cinnamon and cocoa powder

 

Tequila Category

Powered by Tradicional Cristalino Tequila

Euphemia Haye | Wassabirita

Wasabi infused Cuervo Tradicional Cristalino, agave, fresh lime, with a nori rim

 

Mi Pueblo | Como La Flor

Cuervo Tradicional Cristalino and té de Jamaica shaken with cilantro, fresh lime juice, and agave syrup, with a toasted salt rim

 

Miguel’s Restaurant | Sunrise in Paris

Pineapple infused Cuervo Tradicional Cristalino, lime juice, blueberry grenadine, French Orangina, Chambord floater.

 

Tsunami | Takes Two to Mango

Fresh wasabi and mango infused Cuervo Tradicional Cristalino, orange agave, lime juice

 

State Street Eating House | Pear’ Voyance

Cuervo Tradicional Cristalino, pear, lemon, mint cordial clarified

 

 

 

We may say it a lot, but it's true. The suncoast is more than just a place…it’s the people, businesses, cultures and flavors. It’s a community and collective of voices and ideas. Events like these where we can all come together, are what keep our mission alive! Each year gets better and better and we are already counting down the days until next year. Thank you for supporting your locally owned and operated restaurants!

 

The Originals are thankful for their 2022 Set The Bar Cocktail Competition event, beverage, and spirit sponsors, including BMW of Sarasota, The Scout Guide, and Sarasota Magazine.