(January 7th, 2020 – Tampa, Fla.) – Who makes the best cocktail in Tampa Bay? Creative Loafing is letting locals decide at the 4th annual HighBall Craft Cocktail Competition 2020 on Friday, January 31st, 2020 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Nova 535 (535 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. N. in St. Pete).

Attendees will mix and mingle with Tampa Bay’s best bartenders as they sip their way around unlimited craft cocktail samples to find the best. HighBall will showcase 16 craft cocktails created by Tampa Bay’s top mixologists with either whiskey, vodka, gin, or rum as they compete to be named Tampa Bay’s Best Cocktail at HighBall. Plus, vote on favorites in each spirit category while enoying live music and entertainment, local bites, and more fun surprises to be announced.

In 2019, winners included: Best Craft Cocktail – Sea Sea Riders, Best Gin Cocktail – The Living Room, Best Rum Cocktail – L Bar at Hard Rock, Best Vodka Cocktail – Sea Sea Riders, and Best Whiskey Cocktail – The Bricks. Previous year’s winners of the title of Best Craft Cocktail include The Living Room (2018) and Flanagan’s Irish Pub (2017).

This year’s competitors include:

GIN
Featuring Beefeater
Bulla Gastrobar
Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro
The Bricks
Anchor and Brine

RUM
Featuring Malibu
Casa Tina
Datz
Paul’s Landing 
Sonder Social Club

VODKA
Featuring Absolut
The C House
World of Beer
Ichicoro Ane
Perspective at Art Ovation

WHISKEY
Featuring Jameson
First Chance Last Chance Bar
Gigglewaters
Strandhill Public
TASTE Downtown Tampa

The following pricing structure will be in effect:

Advance Pricing ($10 savings)
Now through January 30th
VIP Admission $90 | General Admission $60

Day-Of Pricing (if available)
January 31st
VIP Admission $100 | General Admission $70

VIP Admission includes early entry for an extra hour of sampling without the crowds from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., a VIP lanyard + swag, a VIP-only area with restrooms and a private balcony, VIP-only cocktails, craft cocktail samples from each competitor, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live music + entertainment, voting in each category of the HighBall competition, + other fun surprises. Less than 30 pairs of VIP tickets remain.

General Admission includes craft cocktail samples from each competitor, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live music + entertainment, voting in each category of the HighBall competition, + other fun surprises. Less than 100 pairs of GA tickets remain.

Designated Driver tickets are available for $20 in advance and $30 day-of. Designated Driver Admission includes access to complimentary hors d’oeuvres and live music + entertainment. No alcohol is included with this ticket. 

For more information on HighBall 2020, visit highballtampabay.com

Please use the following hashtag for all digital promotions: #HighBallTampaBay

About Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing is an award-winning alternative, weekly newspaper and website committed to providing Tampa Bay with an independent perspective, up-to-the-minute local news, and a comprehensive listing of local happenings. Creative Loafing offers readers’ unique monthly events and CL Deals, a locally focused platform featuring dining and event experiences at half-off their regular price. For more information about Creative Loafing, visit cltampa.com and cldeals.com.###