A sold-out crowd of more than 100 people enjoyed nine fantastic cocktails—all made with Ketel One Botanical vodka—at the Third Annual Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship, held Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Moxie Palm Springs.
Carlos Argumedo, of Farm, was declared the champion of the event, earning an amazing 92 points (out of 100 possible) on the judges’ scoresheets. The tally was close—three points separated first place from fourth place. Argumedo follows in the footsteps of 2018 winner Hunter Broggi, of Lulu California Bistro (who also participated in this year’s event), and 2016 winner Sherman Chan, of Trio Restaurant.
Trio’s Garrett Spicher was the Audience Choice winner.
Nine bartenders competed in the event, which sold out for the first time in its three-year history. Each competitor made tastes of their drinks for each attendee, before making full drinks for the judges: Ketel One’s Leslie Barclay; Brad Fuhr, of media sponsors Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5 FM; and representatives of Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week’s beneficiaries, the Desert AIDS Project’s Darrell Tucci, and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert’s Alexis Ortega.
The championship is the highlight of Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week, a production of the Coachella Valley Independent. During the week, which continues through Saturday, Feb. 2, participating restaurants create a special drink for the week, or highlight an existing drink from their menus, and donate at least $2 from each drink sold during the week to the Desert AIDS Project and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert. A complete list of drinks and participants can be found at PSCraftCocktails.com.
Below is a collection of photos from the event, taken by the Independent’s Kevin Fitzgerald.
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The Nine Amazing Drinks
The Nine Amazing Drinks
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The Champ
The Champ
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Special Ice
Special Ice
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A Float on the Top
A Float on the Top
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The Audience Choice Winner
The Audience Choice Winner
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Cheyne Tiszai of AC3
Cheyne Tiszai of AC3
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Carlos Argumedo Responds to Cheers
Carlos Argumedo Responds to Cheers
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Cesar Olvera of Alebrije
Cesar Olvera of Alebrije
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Garrett Spicher of Trio
Garrett Spicher of Trio
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Hunter Broggi of Lulu
Hunter Broggi of Lulu
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Jesse Krowiak of Bongo Johnny's
Jesse Krowiak of Bongo Johnny's
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Lucky Callender of Babe's
Lucky Callender of Babe's
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Trophies
Trophies
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Babe's Tasty Drink
Babe's Tasty Drink
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AC3's Flowery Drink
AC3's Flowery Drink
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Cheers!
Cheers!
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Fans of Great Drinks
Fans of Great Drinks
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Big Smiles
Big Smiles
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Cocktail Greatness
Cocktail Greatness
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Enjoying the Show
Enjoying the Show
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Fans of Farm
Fans of Farm
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By the Fire
By the Fire
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Peter Leighton of the Purple Room
Peter Leighton of the Purple Room
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Rachel North of Moxie
Rachel North of Moxie
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The Nine Amazing Bartenders
The Nine Amazing Bartenders
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The Judges
The Judges
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