TAMPA, FL – Tampa Bay bartenders will battle it out for the Ultimate Margarita award Thursday during the seventh annual Tampa Bay Margarita Wars at the Tampa River Center, 402 W. Laurel St., Tampa.
Margarita Wars gives attendees the opportunity to sample creatively blended margaritas made with ingredients inspired by 16 Tampa Bay mixologists representing restaurants, bars and businesses.
Each attendee will be able to vote for the contestant they think created the best version of the classic cocktail while enjoying Mexican-inspired bites and views of the downtown waterfront.
Find out what’s happening in Tampawith free real-time Patch updates.
This is an all-inclusive event open to the public with all samples included with ticket purchase. Advance ticket prices offer up to $25 in savings.
Part of the profits will be donated to the Laundry project.
Find out what’s happening in Tampawith free real-time Patch updates.
Margaritas to create
Besito Mexican will feature the “Blackberry Kiss” margarita made with Tres Generaciones Reposado tequila, crushed blackberries, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and orange liqueur, shaken and served with a sugar rim.
Blood Brothers will serve the “Blood Brothers Margarita” made with El Tesoro Reposado tequila, organic blue agave, lime juice and water.
Bogota Kitchen + Bar will create “The Sonoma Margarita” with Hornitos Plata tequila, gran gala, lime juice, agave, pinot noir and roses.
Bouzy will prepare the “Spicy Cucumber Margarita” with Tres Generaciones Reposado tequila, lime, cucumber water, serrano pepper infused agave nectar and a Tajin rim.
Cipresso at Seminole Hard Rockwill will mix “Peach Margaritas” with Hornitos Plata tequila, grappa, peach nectar, peach syrup, fresh lemon and lime juice.
COCKtail St Pete will create “El Gallo Grande” with Tres Generaciones Plata tequila, super grapefruit juice, thyme-infused agave syrup, Lo Fi Gentian Amaro appetizers, Fever Tree sparkling water and a rim rainbow sea salt
Datz will feature “Who Lives in a Pineapple?” with Tres Generaciones Anejo tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde liqueur, pineapple-jalapeño shrub, cilantro, lime and spicy rim.
Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro will mix “Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas” made with Tres Gen Plata tequila, Natalie’s Margarita Mix and freshly blended jalapeños.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will create “The Horny Habanero Margarita” with Hornitos Reposado tequila, triple sec, freshly squeezed lime juice, homemade agave, mango puree, Fuzzy’s honey habanero sauce and a Fuzzy dust rim served with a lime wedge.
Gigglewaters will offer the “Pineapple Express” featuring Tres Gen Anejo tequila, pineapple, citrus gum and Cayman Jack.
HEW Parlor & Chophouse will create “Prohibita” with Hornitos Plata Tequila, Lime, Agave, Dark Door Spirits Amaro Tropical Liqueur, Tajin and Charred Orange.
No Vacancy offers the “Island Boi” with El Tesoro Reposado tequila, passion fruit, agave falernum, lime, tajin and White Claw Surf Citrus Yuzu Smash.
Pineiro Hospitality will create the “Mi Alma” using Hornitos Blanco tequila, strawberry, lemongrass, watermelon, aji amarillo peppers, lime, a black salt rim and a floral garnish.
Sea Dog Cantina will make the “Spicy Mango Margarita” with El Tesoro Blanco tequila infused with habanero, cold pressed agave, fresh lime juice, Mango Reàl, homemade sweet and sour blend and Rey Azul Mango.
Social Roost will mix “Lady Elote” with Tres Generaciones Reposado tequila, sweet corn, ancho pepper, cilantro, agave, lime, and chili-lime salt.
World of Beer will feature “This Means War” with Tres Generaciones Plata tequila, Passoã passion fruit liqueur, fresh lime, coconut cream, ginger, guava and a rim of salt.
Light bites to serve
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will serve mini nachos, fresh fries, queso, homemade garlic sauce, fresh pico and feta cheese
HEW Parlor & Chophouse will feature sweet and savory margarita cheesecake bites, tajin cinnamon sugar tortilla strips and Grand Marnier gastric.
Taco Bus will serve fries and salsa.
VIP-only appetizers by Good Food Events + Catering include Devil’s Crab Croquette, Sweet Corn and Refried Black Bean Quesadilla, Beef Empanada, Grilled Margarita Chilled Shrimp, carnitas and ceviche hearts of palm.
Tickets are on sale now here with less than 50 VIP tickets remaining.
VIP tickets include:
- Two-hour early entry at 6 p.m.
- Time reserved for VIPs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- VIP hour and General Admission Plus only from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Heavy appetizers skipped during VIP hour
- A free full-size beer
- VIP gift
- Margarita samples from each contestant
- Mexican-inspired light appetizers
- Vote for Tampa Bay’s Ultimate Margarita
- Access to photo opportunities
General Admission-Plus tickets include:
- One hour early entry at 7 p.m.
- General Admission-Plus and VIP-only hour 7:00-8:00 p.m.
- A free full-size beer
- Margarita samples from each contestant
- Mexican-inspired light appetizers
- Vote for Tampa Bay’s Ultimate Margarita
- Access to photo opportunities
General admission tickets include:
- entry at 8 p.m.
- Margarita samples from each contestant
- Mexican-inspired light appetizers
- Vote for Tampa Bay’s Ultimate Margarita
- Access to photo opportunities
Previous Margarita Wars winners include:
- 2019, Mandarin Heights, “The Outclaw” by Philipp VanHorn
- 2018, First Chance Last Chance Bar, “The Sunsine-Rita” by Mo Pickering
- 2017, Mexican Besito, “Not Your Average Margarita” by Julia Sowa
- 2016, Datz, “Kelly Kapowski” by Morgan Zuch
- 2015, Salty’s Gulfport, “The Foster Child: a Bananas Foster Experience” by Kat McKenna
- 2014, Datz, “Rosy the pig” by Morgan Zuch
The sponsors are Hornitos, Tres Generaciones, El Tesoro, White Claw, Cayman Jack, Rey Azul, Zing Zang, Datz Restaurant Group and Corona.
Laundry Project, a movement of Current Initiatives, a Florida nonprofit committed to educating and mobilizing communities to spread hope through The Laundry Project, Hope For Homes Project, and Affordable Christmas initiatives.
The Laundry Project helps low-income families meet a basic need – washing clothes and linens – by transforming laundromats into community centers of hope.
Laundry costs are paid while volunteers help with laundry services, entertain children, and create a caring space at the laundromat.
