Voters at the 2016 Taste of Pasadena at the Rose Bowl voted the Julio’s Passion from Ruth’s Chris Steak House the winner of the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. Pasadena’s Cocktail of the Year won out over a/k/a Bistro’s Spiced Mango Mule, Clearman’s Galley’s Wild Berry Sangria and the Rye.P.A. from White Horse Lounge. Ruth’s Chris, which won the inaugural SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge in 2012 with the Broad Street Hurricane is the first SIP-tember repeat winner. Julio’s Passion is made from Pom Wonderful, lime juice, sour mix, Don Julio Silver and Passionfruit Syrup, garnished with a Lime Twist.
The other competition drinks were:
- a/k/a Bistro Spiced Mango Mule: Made with Trader Vic’s dark and light rums, a/k/a’s unique mango shrub created by our head bartender and featuring Bundaberg ginger beer;
- Clearman’s Galley (The Boat) Wild Berry Sangria: Malbec wine, Black Wild Berry Pucker, OJ, Pineapple, Simple syrup
- White Horse Lounge Rye-P-A: IPA Foam, Rye Whiskey, Grapefruit Juice, Cardamom Infused Honey
The SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge is a friendly competition among local bartenders to determine Pasadena’s Cocktail of the Year. 32 drinks were entered in a head-to-head bracket competition. Over three rounds, online voters narrowed the field to the four finalist cocktails. Restaurants that took part in the competition were: a/k/a Bistro, Alondra Hot Wings, bar 1886 at the Raymond, Bistro 45, Clearman’s Galley, Perry’s bluRoom at the Constance Hotel, PitFire Pizza, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and White Horse Lounge.
