JCI Okanagan is once again presenting the Okanagan Spirits Winetender’s Mixoff, October 9 at the Laurel Packinghouse. This event challenges bartenders to create cocktails using local wines and Okanagan Spirits, and pairing them with delicious food.
An impressive lineup of judges will be on hand to decide who is the 2014 Winetender Champion. This year’s judges will be Gerry Jobe (Niche Cocktails), Tracy Gray (Discover Wines), and Tarynn Parker (The Field Guide). But the public won’t miss out, after sampling food and cocktails from each of the competitors, they too will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Local restaurants are jumping to showcase the creativity and influences that they use in their dishes and want to showcase how the trend is to now apply these same techniques to the drinks that they serve.
Harry Dosanj from Bacaro will be competing again, defending his People’s Choice win from 2013. He will be joined by nine other bartenders from various restaurants throughout the valley.
This is also an incredible opportunity for the public to try cocktails and food from ten of the best restaurants in the region, and to be entertained with live music. More details and tickets are available at www.winetender.ca, with early bird pricing until Sept 30.
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, with a portfolio over 25 different types of alcohol made from 100 per cent B.C. fruit and grain, has over 50 World Spirits awards to their name, and is now Canada’s only Master Class Distillery, North America’s only World Class Distillery, and last year’s World Spirits Awards Distillery of the Year.
“We are, once again, excited to be involved with an event that introduces people to the delicious and creative options available when mixing wine with spirits or liqueurs.” says sales & marketing manager Rodney Goodchild. “With some familiar faces and some new faces, we look forward to seeing what our region’s top bartenders will come up with, and award the bartender with the best cocktail the 2014 Winetender Mixoff Award”
JCI Okanagan is a member based non-profit organization where “young professionals and entrepreneurs are developing as individuals to make an impact.”
“We wanted to create a fun event to cater to adults who enjoy food and wine. We think that attendees will be impressed with the wide variety of food and the abundance of cocktails being sampled around the room.” says Corinne Shoranick, JCI Okanagan president. “This is a fun and yet still affordable way to get out and enjoy the Fall Wine Festival.”
