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Creative Loafing announces margarita details for Margarita Wars 2019
(July 23, 2019 – Tampa, Fla.) – Margarita Wars is back for its sixth year with 20 local mixologists competing with Olmeca Altos Tequila to win the title of Tampa Bay’s Best Margarita on Friday, July 26th, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre (4121 N. 50th St. in Tampa). Tickets are on sale now with a $5 savings in advance at margaritawarstampabay.com
Everyone’s favorite tequila battle, Margarita Wars, gives attendees a unique opportunity to sample their way around margaritas featuring Olmeca Altos Tequila and created by 20 local mixologists representing restaurants and bars in the Tampa Bay area. Each attendee will be able to vote on-site for the competitor they believe created the best version of the classic cocktail. Plus, attendees will be able to enjoy live entertainment like salsa dancing and Spanish guitar, Mexican-inspired hors d’oeuvres, and other fun surprises throughout the night.
FEATURING:
Acropolis Greek Taverna Riverview
“Aphrodites Fury” by Anna Prescott
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, Triple sec, sour mix, fresh muddled pepperoncini, watermelon, & lime
Bella’s Italian Cafe
“The Red Widow” by Jason Dyer
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, serrano pepper tincture, St-Germain, Campari, Cocchi Americano Rosa, lime juice, salt foam, & serrano pepper grind
Besito Mexican Restaurant
“Besito Sandito” by Monica Goyeneche
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, orange liqueur, watermelon purée, agave, lime juice, Jarritos Grapefruit, finished with a bite of watermelon & a mild chipotle rim
Datz St. Pete
“Pineapple ‘The Upside Down’” by Jon Griffiths
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, roasted pineapple syrup, fresh lime juice, garnished with toasted coconut & a black cherry
Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro
“Sweet & Salty St. Pete” by Cara Baker
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, orange juice, orange liqueur, salted caramel sauce, & lime juice with caramel & salt rim
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
“Kruncky Kreme Margarita” by Martina Kelly
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, Triple sec, champagne, cored raspberry jelly filling, fresh squeezed lemons, limes, oranges, & agave nectar with a powdered sugar rim, garnished with raspberry & served with a glazed donut
Gigglewaters
“Key Lime Fly. But like cool, not the insect.” by Hailey McCarthy
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, Triple sec, cucumber, jalapeño, fresh lime juice, & key lime flavors with cookie butter rim, garnished with key lime pie
L Bar at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa
“Blueberry Margarita” by Melissa Valdez
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, pineapple juice, Tattersall Blueberry Liqueur, fresh lime juice & simple syrup
Mandarin Heights
“The Outclaw” by Philipp VanHorn
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, Cedilla Acai Liqueur, lime, agave, Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub Cocktail Bitters, Bittermens New Orleans Coffee Liqueur, topped with White Claw Hard Seltzer
Mole y Abuela
“The CoCoPeño Marg” by Jesse Kazo
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, jalapeño lime juice, coconut purée, & orange bitters
Nueva Cantina
“Caliente Picante” by Bex McNulty
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, jalapeño, cucumber, mango purée, lime juice, & agave
The Bricks
“Uncle Al’s” by Kyle Nalls
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, Lillet Rosé Aperitif, blueberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, lime, sugar, & cilantro herb salt
The Hall on Franklin
“La Margarita Roja” by Jack Joy
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, Cynar, lime, simple syrup, & Tempranillo, garnished with a lime twist & Luxardo Cherry
The Kitchen & Bar at Safety Harbor
“Thyme After Time” by Tim Dominick
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, PAMA Pomegranate Flavored Liqueur, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, fresh thyme, & lime
The Landing at Jannus
“Tangerine Dream” by Jersey Gassert
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, Orange Hibiscus Rosato, fresh citrus, fresh squeezed tangerine juice, garnished with sugared Cuties
The Lure St. Pete
“Get out of my swamp” by Kendra Zivkovic
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, fresh avocado cream, pressed coconut water, lime juice, agave, & Cointreau
The Lure Tampa
“Ay Dios Mío” by Erisbel Reynoso
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, watermelon schnapps, Cointreau, lime juice, agave, watermelon chunks, & jalapeño slices, garnished with a lime wheel
World of Beer
“WOB B.O.M (Blood Orange Margarita)” by Marc Llauget
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, fresh lime juice, blood orange puree, agave syrup, mint sprigs, garnished with lime, orange salt, & sugar rim
WTR Pool & Grill
“Monkeys from a barrel” by Randy Wetherington
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, a handmade blend of banana liqueur & banana purée, lime juice, & a dash of Triple sec with a Tajín rim, garnished with a lime & orchid flower
Yard of Ale
“Pineapple Verde Margarita” by Shana Zajkowski
Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, Amaro Montenegro Liqueur, Ancho Reyes Verde Chile Liqueur, pineapple juice, & housemade sour mix, garnished with lime & a salt rim
General Admission to Margarita Wars is $45 Advance (now through July 25th) and $50 Day-Of (July 26th). GA includes unlimited margarita samples from each competitor, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, + voting in the ‘Tampa Bay’s Best Margarita’ contest.
VIP Admission is $75 Advance (now through July 25th) and $80 Day-Of (July 26th). VIP Admission includes early entry from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., a VIP-only area featuring a Build-Your-Own Nacho Bar by Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, one beer, one shaved ice margarita featuring Doggery Craft Ice + Altos Tequila, a VIP lanyard, a $25 voucher for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, unlimited margarita samples from each competitor, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, voting in the ‘Tampa Bay’s Best Margarita’ contest, + more!
As voted on by Margarita Wars attendees, 2018’s winner was First Chance Last Chance Bar Mo Pickering’s “The Sunsine-Rita” featuring with Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato, rhubarb bitters, fresh lime and lemon juices, and passion fruit puree. 2017’s winner was Besito Mexican Julia Sowa’s “Not Your Average Margarita” made with Besito’s house blend of nine tropical fruit juices, fresh lime juice, and a super secret ingredient added to a sugar rim, while 2016’s winner was “Kelly Kapowski,” featuring edible flowers, prickly pear, and Tidal Boar Ginger Beer made by Datz mixologist Morgan Zuch. In 2015, Kat McKenna walked away with the award with “The Foster Child: a Bananas Foster Experience,” an intricate mix of banana, vanilla, sugar, and spices and 2014’s winner was was “Rosy the Pig,” a strawberry smoked rose margarita by Datz’s Morgan Zuch.
For more information on Margarita Wars, visit margaritawarstampabay.com
