Sip happens! Sonoma County mixologists compete in cocktail competition

Proceeds went to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Fern Bar in Sebastopol finished tops in two categories at last month’s Full Tilt Cocktail Competition at Graton Resort and Casino. Attendees of the Aug. 1 event in Rohnert Park were in for a sprightly contest with bartenders from 10 of Sonoma County’s top bars and restaurants.

Fern’s bar manager Matt Katzin and lead bartender Thomas Cracraft combined to develop some innovative cocktail recipes. Fern Bar placed first for both the juried competition—a live cocktail-creation contest using mystery ingredients—and the People’s Choice portion of the competition with cocktail recipes prepared in advance and voted on by event attendees.

The competition also featured bartenders from such Sonoma County watering holes as Jackson’s Bar & Oven, 19Ten, Stark’s Steakhouse, Bird & the Bottle, Blue Ridge Kitchen, Lo & Behold, Molti Aminic, The Matheson, as well as the mixology team at Graton Resort.

For the People’s Choice contest, featuring a cocktail prepared in advance, contestants prior to the event received a sample of either Ford’s gin or Charbay vodka, from which they’d develop an original recipe; Fern Bar’s Katzin and Cracraft took first place for the Charbay-based “The Gallagher,” which featured mint, with watermelon and lime juice. “John John” Chevalier from the Matheson in Healdsburg placed second in the People’s Choice. 

The juried contest gave the bartenders 10 minutes to improvise a cocktail in an Iron Chef-style challenge, using only ingredients given at the start of the contest. Katzin once again took first prize. Tofer Goodman, from Bird & the Bottle in Santa Rosa, was awarded second place by the judging panel, which consisted of Soda Works’ owner Jason Steele, Barndiva beverage director Scott Beattie and Sonoma County-based vlogger Chelsea Pearl. 

A portion of the proceeds from the event went to the American Society for Suicide Prevention. Attendance was nearly 350, and at the close of the night Sara Mitchell and Christina Huntress accepted a check on behalf of the foundation for $5,000.

Fern Bar is known for its craft garden-to-glass cocktails. You can visit the bar-focused restaurant at The Barlow in Sebastopol, 6780 Depot St., Suite 120.