"Twelve bartenders. Three Rounds. One winner."
That’s the formula behind the second annual Brass Bartender's Mixology Competition taking place on June 21 at M8RX, and it almost reads like the ingredients of a well put together cocktail. Showcasing the skills of a dozen mixologists from bars all over Santa Barbara, including the Wildcat, Seven, and Tonic, the Brass Bartender is shaking up the standards for such cocktails showdowns.
"I wanted to create a contest that would challenge the bartender on the spot," explained Scott Sampila, the contest's organizer, emcee, and creator. "When a well-known alcohol brand sponsors a contest, everyone has a chance to plan in advance what they're going to make. For the Brass Bartender, no one knows what the required alcoholic component is until the moment they're asked to make a drink with it, and the drink must contain at least a half ounce of that alcohol. "