www.edibleaustin.com

There will be no registration fee associated with the contest.

It is mandatory that you include at least one Texas-made spirit from the following list, and that your base spirit come from this list (more sponsors/participant spirits are signing up every day, so check back soon for more details):

Tito's Vodka
Paula's Texas Orange
Paula's Texas Lemon
Treaty Oak Rum
Graham's Texas Tea
Waterloo Gin
Baby Blue Corn Whisky
Balcones Rumble
Balcones True Blue
Balcones Brimstone
Cypress Creek Reserve Rum
Enchanted Rock Vodka
Rebecca Creek Texas Whiskey
Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon
Dripping Springs
Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
Pecan St Rum
Cinco Vodka 

Each participant’s entry must be received by email to tex@tipsytexan.com no later than Midnight CST on November 23, 2011. Entries received after this time will be disqualified.

Five finalists and one alternate will be selected, notified and announced on Monday November 28, 2011.

Five finalists and one alternate will present their drinks at Edible Austin magazine’s Fifth Annual Drink Local Night on Thursday December 8, 2011 in the ballroom at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center. The contestants and alternate will each make five drinks for the judging panel. They will need to arrive at the venue by 4:30 pm to assist in batching the contest drinks that will be served in sample portions to guests; contestants will be expected to be available to pour samples for the duration of the event, which is a fundraiser for Urban Roots. A Google Places Crowd Favorite prize will be awarded to the contestant whose drink receives the most votes from event attendees.

Your batch will need to be sufficient enough to serve 500 2-oz sample portions.
Base spirits, modifying spirits, readily available fruits and juices will be provided, unless it is an unusual item (such as a house-made syrup or obscure liqueur) in which case please provide your own. A stipend of $50 will be provided to reimburse cost of proprietary ingredients.

If the finalist cannot be present to prepare the cocktail the evening of the competition, the cocktail cannot be prepared by a surrogate. In such an event, the alternate will compete.
Recipes should contain at least two alcoholic ingredients: one must be utilized as a base spirit and one as a modifying spirit.

All garnishes must be edible and prepared by contestant; fresh garnish ingredients specified in the finalists' recipes will be provided. Use of manufactured garnishes will not be allowed, except for straws and toothpicks, which will be provided if requested in advance by contestant.

Standard bar tools will be provided; Boston shakers, bars spoons, Hawthorn strainers, etc. Contestants may, at their request, use their own non-branded bar tools and their own fruit for garnishes (Only natural fruits may be used for garnish).

Maximum number of alcohol and non-alcohol components should not exceed six (6), including drops, rinses and dashes.

Each contestant will present five identical cocktails, one for each judge. Time for preparing the five cocktails in front of the judges should not exceed six (6) minutes from the start of preparation to service. You will be expected to be “on deck” approximately ten minutes before you will begin your presentation.

The winning recipe will be featured in the Spring 2012 issue of Edible Austin magazine.

The winning recipe will be declared the Official Drink of Austin for the next year, complete with a proclamation stating as much from the Office of the Mayor.