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Combine Pisco, guava, marshmallow shrub and Chandon. Smear chamoy with chile on the glass. Place a dehydrated lemon slice inside.
That original recipe for his “Guavacito” brought Felix Parra from Market Tavern in Dublin both the 2026 Mixologist of the Year and People’s Choice awards at the Tri-Valley Craft Cocktail Competition last weekend on the Bankhead Plaza.
Parra and 17 other top local drink-makers put their skills to the test for hundreds of thirsty attendees and four judges, including yours truly, during the annual fundraiser for Pacific Chamber Orchestra.
“What an incredible afternoon! We sold out at 400. The creative delicious cocktails and imaginative, over-the-top booth decorations set a friendly but still a high, high competitive bar. The restaurants went all out with delicious bites,” PCO co-founder and music director Lawrence Kohl told me afterward.
“The vibe throughout was chill. When we saw lines quite full for tastes as we were approaching the stated end time, we decided to and announced extending for 15 more minutes. The crowd cheered,” Kohl added. “All told, we raised $36,000 for our educational programs and concerts.”
The Craft Cocktail Competition has continued to grow in popularity and precision in its three years. Looking back on the inaugural event, which was the last time I judged, I couldn’t believe how stellar the inventive drinks were across the plaza Saturday night.
“There wasn’t a miss,” I said at the mic before announcing the top award winner. “And for the first time ever, the People’s Choice was the judges’ choice: Felix Parra.”
Every cocktail was tasty in its own right, but Parra’s Guavacito was the clear favorite – so memorable for how the flavors popped and the liquids quenched. His explanation was fascinating about experimenting to find the perfect mix, making his own chamoy and dehydrated lemons and choosing the shrub to incorporate into the drink.
That’s one of the perks of being a judge at the event. We get to hear all of the explainers from the creative mixologists.
David Hendrickson, of Sidewinder Spirits Co. in Livermore, walked us through the process behind his second-place “Mint Diablo” and how he used curdling milk as a strainer of sorts while making the cocktail. The green mint foam on top of the shot glass was a nice touch that brought the whole thing together.
Nina Rose Pujols utilized Japanese Awayuki strawberry gin in her punchy “Fresita” to take third place home to Pleasanton and Pivot Craft Kitchen & Sports Bar in its first year of operation.
Some of my other favorites were “Summer in Greece” by Gabriel Aguilar of Demitri’s Taverna (which was our first taste of the afternoon), “Derby Dingler” by Jeremy Troupe-Masi repping Wingen Bakery, “Mexicali love” by Kevin Walker of Sabio on Main and “Sicilian Coaster” by Theresa Schreiber of the new Rosmarino (in the old Gianni’s spot in San Ramon).
The spirit of professional and respectful competition – for a great cause – emanated throughout the plaza.
That camaraderie certainly spread among our little judging group of local news media members: Christina Cavallaro from the Independent, Barney Fonzi from Diablo Magazine and myself from the Pleasanton Weekly and Livermore Vine. We were joined by Anne Giancola from Livermore Valley Arts, who also served as the sole judge for the booth decoration contest.
She was drawn to the pirate theme of The Fat Pigeon (first) and the speakeasy vibe for The Bourbon Pear (second) – the latter being the restaurant my wife and I went with friends later that evening.
The Craft Cocktail Competition came one weekend after PCO’s final concerts of its 2025-26 season, which featured renowned pianist Jon Nakamatsu playing with the orchestra at shows in Lafayette and Livermore.
“For me it was the absolutely marvelous and beautiful playing of Jon and the entire orchestra for both works,” Kohl told me about what stood out about the concerts April 25-26.
“Each concert was its own precious gem. Would love to do them over and over again and again,” he added in reflection of the whole last year. “It was a season that I will treasure forever.”
The cocktail event provides a nice infusion of funds as PCO prepares for its 2026-27 season. So too is the 50% boost match campaign underway for PCO through June 30 thanks to the Community Health and Education Foundation, with the goal to raise up to $150,000 overall. Go to PacificChamberOrchestra.org to learn more.
The schedule for the new season is still being worked out, but Kohl gave me a sneak peek.
He plans to have three concert sets centered on yet-undetermined classics, in September, April and May. “Winning Scores” shows of emerging composers is due in October, PCO’s popular Handel’s “Messiah” concerts in November and a new “Disney Dreams and Magic” in December.
After nearly 40 years, Kohl still finds inspiration and motivation in all that PCO offers the community, the musicians and the maestro himself.
“The joy in the audiences, the collegial efforts of the top Bay Area pros to realize together with me an overall vision and interpretation that brings out soul, the humanity and the artistry of each work, and that engagement and flashes of insight on the faces of the students at each and every ‘Discover Music Now’ educational assembly,” he told me.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and 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.
