Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s annual Highball cocktail event returns to downtown St. Pete

Each year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay aims to answer the loaded question of "who makes the best cocktail in Tampa Bay?" at its annual Highball party.

2023’s Highball event and competition happens on Friday, Dec. 8 at St. Pete’s Nova 535, located at 535 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. N.

Just a few of the local restaurants and bars that are participating in this year’s Highball competition include American Social, The Dunedin Smokehouse, Jotoro, Red Mesa Cantina, The Living Room, Blur Nightclub and The Hangar, alongside several other concepts.

Several different types of alcohol will be featured in the competitor's highball samples, from gin and vodka to whiskey and bourbon.

Early bird general admission tickets run for $65 each and include unlimited cocktail samples from Highball competitors, photo ops and the chance to vote for your favorite drink in each spirit category, as well as “Tampa Bay's Best Highball.” Early admission tickets, which provide guests with an extra hour of sampling, cost $85. All ticketing options can be browsed on highballtampabay.com.

In addition to unlimited highball samples, next month’s event will also feature live entertainment and access to small bites.

Spirits brand Beam Suntory presents this year’s Highball competition, alongside various other sponsors like Haku Vodka, Sipsmith Gin and Hornitos.

A portion of Highball proceeds will benefit Current Initiatives of Tampa Bay, a local nonprofit that organizes a variety of charitable programs like The Laundry Project, Hope for Homes and Affordable Christmas.

For more information on Highball, head to highballtampabay.com or follow @cltampabay on Instagram.  Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

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