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When Lawrence Kohl, music director for Pacific Chamber Orchestra, asked if I would serve as a judge for the nonprofit’s inaugural Tri-Valley Craft Cocktail Competition, I was intrigued by the unique opportunity to put my taste buds to the test … and genuinely curious to see what this brand-new fundraiser was all about.
What an illuminating personal experience it was.
The sold-out event on May 4 outside the Bankhead Theater in Livermore showcased 15 of the area’s best mixologists from local bars and restaurants, including those you could see right from that corner of downtown.
It drew attendees of all ages (21 and older, of course) in part because in a region known for its wine tastings and beer crawls, a special event centered around local cocktails really stands out.
And the buzz around the Bankhead Plaza by the end, despite the unseasonably cool evening, was people on both sides of the tables looking forward to the competition returning in 2025. Count Kohl and his organizing committee and PCO volunteers among them.
“Personally, I think we achieved something precious beyond all basic goals — that is a sense of community,” Kohl told me by email afterward. “Creating community, bringing joy and developing that empathy for each other, is the essence of what classical music and events like TVC3 aim for at the highest level.”
“To me it still is utterly amazing and gratifying,” he said, lauding everyone from the major sponsors to the bartenders and their support teams to the volunteers to “every single ticket buyer that gave us a sold out event took a chance to support, (participant) and attendee on a day when it was (pouring) rain right up to the last, an event that was nothing like any other here in area.”
Though new to the Tri-Valley, the craft cocktail competition fundraiser format was borrowed from the Lamorinda Arts Council — the other community where PCO performs its concerts throughout each year.
“I have thought that the same sort of idea fitting our Tri-Valley community would meet all those same criteria,” Kohl said. “What it takes is a committee that believes in and has the capacity, skills and connections to make it work. That committee came together this year.”
The competing mixologists showed out too.
It was no easy task as our group of judges gathered to review after moving table to table, shot glass in hand, like we were on “Top Chef: Cocktails”. Joining me were Christina Cavallaro, assistant editor at the Independent (yes, I was mingling with the enemy … wink), and Anne Giancola, visual arts and education manager for Livermore Valley Arts (who was tasked with judging booth decorations).
Our consensus was clear though: Tania Acosta from Hops and Sessions won 2024 Mixologist of the Year. Her submission, “The Riviera”, had the depth of flavor, visual creativity (split color!) and origin story to rise to the top.
Second place went to “Satellitium” by Jeremy and Team from The Fat Pigeon, and Skye McMullen from Nightcaps at Rosetta took home third place for “Forbidden Fruit” (she also won Best Table Decoration).
People’s Choice, by a tight margin, was “The Longshot” by Brittany and Jonny Lang from Jonny on the Spot Mobile Bar (an apt offering on Kentucky Derby day). “The Pancake Breakfast” earned Jake Fahnhorst the Amateur of the Year title (the late-arriving hit of butterscotch flavor sealed it).
Though we had to pick winners, I remember thinking that all of the drinks tasted great, with inspiring individual creativity to boot, so I hope each bartender left with their head held high.
And it sure seems the event was a success from PCO’s perspective. Between sponsorships and ticket sales, the fundraiser netted the nonprofit about $25,000 for its concerts and education programs, according to Kohl.
PCO, after all, is gearing up for its first-ever Summer Pops Concert on June 29 in Lafayette and June 30 at the Bankhead, as well as its full 2024-25 season ahead.
“As you know, ticket sales cover less than half of what it takes to put on a top quality professional concert. PCO consists of the Bay Area’s finest pros and brings in guest artists of international stature,” he said. “Educational programs cannot be maintained or grow to properly cover the Tri-Valley area on grants alone. A major fundraising event provides a yearly solid basis from which to plan.”
Soon the attention will turn to preparations for the 2025 Tri-Valley Craft Cocktail Competition.
“The committee will be getting together in a couple of weeks for a review and improved discussion,” Kohl said. “I am sure that they will have lots of ideas. That being said, everything worked well.”
Cheers to next year.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What a Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
