Three women smiling and holding themed green drink containers at the Taco, Tequila, and Tiki Takedown at Hotel Flor in Tampa. They are standing in a crowded event space with a "Top Shelf" branded banner in the background.
Tequila & Tiki Takedown at Tampa, Florida’s Hotel Flor on March 27, 2026. Credit: Nick Cardello / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Formerly known as Margarita Wars, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s annual tequila tasting and throwdown is always the publication’s tipsy-est event. Known in 2026 as the Tequila & Tiki Takedown, the evening featured sample galore, food to soak it all up, plus the opportunity for attendees to crown “Tampa Bay’s Ultimate Tequila Cocktail.”

At the end, Elevage took come critic’s pick for best cocktail while Jotoro claimed the people’s pick for best cocktail. Here’s every one we saw tying one on last Friday at Hotel Flor in downtown Tampa.

All photos by Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Nick Cardello/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

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This article appears in Mar. 26 – Apr. 1.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...