Who makes the best cocktails in North Florida? That is a question V Pizza is trying to answer with its North Florida “BMF” Cocktail Series.
The series has been taking place over the past several weeks and pits local bartenders against each other in a competition designed to test their drink creativity and expertise.
The series consists of six competitions with the winners during each then advancing to take part in the main event, which is scheduled to be held April 21 at 7 p.m. at Flask & Cannon in St. Augustine, with the winner taking home not only bragging rights but also a $1,000 cash prize and the BMF belt.
The top twelve bartenders from the first six contests advance to the finals, and the winners of the qualifying competitions also get $250 prizes.
Every Monday night since March 11, a contest has been held at various bars throughout the northeast Florida area, including Sidecar in Gainesville, Tap Garden in Fleming Island, Flask & Cannon at Jacksonville Beach, and Sidecar in Jacksonville.
The final chance for bartenders to secure their spot in the finals is during the event on April 15 at Julep in Palm Valley beginning at 7 p.m.
Each of the competitions had a certain uniqueness to them in the type of drink mixture the bartenders were tasked with creating and the specific types of alcohol they were required to use in their concoction.
The focus at the Julep contest will be crafting the best whiskey cocktail featuring whiskies from the Heaven Hills portfolio, such as Elijah Craig, Larceny, Rittenhouse and Mellow Corn.
Previous contest variations included best tiki cocktail, a head-to-head format, best beer-centric cocktail, a speed round involving tiki classics and versions of trash shooters and elevated cocktail.
The finals will offer its own challenge because contestants will be judged on a combination of speed, precision and creativity during a series of events.
