Full Tilt Mixology Contest Shakes Up Graton Resort & Casino

Press Releases / Full Tilt Mixology Contest Shakes Up Graton Resort & Casino

Graton Resort & Casino held the second annual “Full Tilt Mixology Contest.” The event showcased teams of Sonoma County’s top 10 cocktail experts, all vying for the title of best cocktail recipe. Attendance at this year’s event saw a significant 25% increase, underscoring its success and broad appeal to both the hospitality industry and the general public. The judges awarded $5,000 to first-place winner Cappy Sorentino from Petaluma’s BREWSTERS BEER GARDEN for his tequila-based cocktail, impressively crafted in just 5 minutes using secret ingredients during the “Iron Chef Style” segment of the competition. Matt Katzin of Sebastopol’s Fern Bar earned second place and a $3,000 prize, while Domenica Catelli of Catelli’s restaurant in Geyserville took third place with a $2,000 award. FERN BAR won the People’s Choice award for their cocktail, “West County Drift.” This recipe was prepared ahead of the competition and received the highest number of votes from the public. In addition to BREWSTERS BEER GARDEN and FERN BAR, competitors included BIRD & THE BOTTLE, CATELLI’S, EL DORADO KITCHEN, GRATON RESORT & CASINO, LITTLE SAINT, LO & BEHOLD, THE MATHESON, and WILLI’S SEAFOOD & RAW BAR. The judges included Scott Beattie, beverage director at Barndiva in Healdsburg; Ziggy Eschliman, broadcast journalist and host of the Wine Wednesday podcast; and Ty Hang, brand ambassador for Campari Group spirits. Read more about the cocktail mixology contest.