Creative Loafing is back with another event to get sloppy at — well, maybe not as sloppy as Margarita Wars, but close.
The 4th Annual HighBall craft cocktail competition is returning to Nova 535 in St. Petersburg Friday, January 31.
If you’ve never experienced HighBall, here's a primer: Tampa Bay bars send their best mixologists to gather and duke it out to see who makes the best cocktail. To level the playing field, the cocktail competition is split into into four different categories depending on the drink's base: Whiskey, vodka, gin and rum. Winners are selected for each category, but there's is also a prize for the best overall craft cocktail.
In 2019, Dunedin's Sea Sea Riders was crowned best craft cocktail and took the title for Best Vodka Cocktail. The best part is that the judging is in your hands, which means you’ll be testing 16 different cocktails throughout the night (and you’re more than welcome to have more than one of each).
Needless to say, ridesharing is probably in your future. Designated driver tickets are available for $20 in advance ($30 at the door) and come with full access to the entertainment and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.
Because of a flash sale starting right now, tickets to Creative Loafing Tampa's Highball craft cocktail competition start at $40 for GA admission, which includes craft cocktail samples from each competitor, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, live music and entertainment. VIP Tickets — which include all GA goodies, early entry for an extra hour of sampling from 6-7 p.m., a VIP lanyard, swag, a VIP restrooms, a private balcony, and VIP-only cocktails — start at $70.
Ticket prices go up on November 15 during the early bird period and and will continue to rise in price until doors open on the event.
Nova 535 is located at 535 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. N., St. Pete. More information on the event and ticketing is available on highballtampabay.com.
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Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s annual Highball cocktail event returns to downtown St. Pete
This article appears in Nov 7-14, 2019.