Last week I received a tweet-vite from Jessie to attend the US Bartender’s Guild Most Imaginative Bartender Competition that was being hosted at Malverde tonight.  Though fifty percent of me wanted to eat something carbtastic and curl up in pj’s when I got home from work, the other fifty percent knew that turning down an invite from a new pal to a super cool event, well… that just wouldn’t be livin’!

I rolled in solo and cashed in my first drink ticket.  I sipped slurped my Bombay Collins as I took it all in.  How had I never heard of Malverde?  What would this place be like on a Friday night?  I wonder how many friends I’d run into had I attended an event like this back home?  Would my Tampa bartenders dominate a contest like this?  All thoughts that ran through my head as I waited for Alex and Jessie to find me looking lost at the bar.

Thankfully it’s oh so easy to hide behind a lens.  By the time I snapped some photos and fulfilled my social media addiction, I spotted an Alex.  And then minutes later, a Jessie.

The accidental spot we snagged at the bar ended up being the best seat in the house.  We watched, front row, a handful of Central Texas’s finest bartenders show us their top secret concoctions.  Cilantro, candied pineapple, limoncello, herbed ice cubs – there wasn’t a base that wasn’t covered during this competition.

The judges thoroughly analyzed each competitor.  Like for reals, look at their faces.

We weren’t able to stay for the entire competition, but we made sure to watch Alex’s friend, Tacy, before heading out.  Aaaand… I’m so glad we did.  First, this was the only cocktail that we had the privilege of sampling (and it was amazing and refreshing and completely right).  Second, Tacy was the big winner of the competition and secured her spot in Vegas for the Most Imaginative Bartender in NORTH AMERICA Competition!

Congrats Tacy!  I can’t wait to visit you at drink.well.!