The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce hosts the second SIP-tember: a celebration of the cocktail, the annual 6-week long celebration of the cocktail from August 15th through September 26th. The competition culminates in a live taste-off of the four finalist cocktails at the Rose Bowl on September 26th from 6pm to 9pm.
The Langham's Tap Room is a great place to spend an evening.
Sushi Roku's adult milkshake.
California Pizza Kitchen entered three drinks in the SIP-tember cocktail bracket challenge.
Bar Celona entered four drinks in the 2012 SIP-tember bracket challenge.
POP Champagne and Dessert Bar had four SIP-tember drinks to offer.
Ruth's Chris' Broad Street Hurricane was Pasadena's favorite cocktail of 2012 at the SIP-tember Finale
A/K/A an American Bistro entered four drinks in the 2012 SIP-tember cocktail bracket challenge.
Bar Celona's SIP-tember entries were popular in 2012.
The Bellini at POP Champagne and Dessert Bar was perfect to toast Julia Child's 100th in 2012.
Ix-Tapa has these drinks (and more) to toast Julia Child's 100th birthday in 2012.
Four from Vertical Wine Bistro were tasted during SIP-tember, 2012.
Patrons could taste Market on Holly's Bellini during SIP-tember.
El Cholo's Watermelon Margarita was among the Exquisite Eight in the 2012 SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge.
California Pizza Kitchen's Top Shelf Long Island Iced Tea
Patrons get to decide which cocktail is Pasadena’s favorite during SIP-tember: a celebration of the cocktail in Pasadena. From August 15th through September 26th, local restaurants will serve cocktails that will be paired against each other in a competition. 64 cocktails, ranging from drinks specially concocted for the competition to margaritas and sangria, will begin the competition that will last six weeks and culminate in a live taste-off of the four drinks that win their bracket.
Tickets to the SIP-tember Finale and Taste of Pasadena at the Rose Bowl on September 26, 2013, cost $25 in advance and $30 at the door. (Advance tickets must be purcahsed by 12noon on Thursday, September 26, 2013). You can purchase advance (discount) tickets at http://www.pasadena-chamber.org/events/sip-tember.
Brackets will be unveiled on the Pasadena Restaurant Week website on Monday, August 5th at 2pm. Which drinks will be paired against each other in competition? Will 2012’s favorite cocktail, the Broad Street Hurricane, stand up to this year’s competitors?
The 64 cocktails competing in 32 brackets will be available for viewing at the Pasadena Restaurant Week website at www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com on Monday, August 5th.
The first challenge will take place over two weeks and pit 32 pairs of cocktails against each other. Each week following the winners will be paired head-to-head with another winning cocktail until, on September 27th, the four finalists will be matched in a live tasting during the annual Taste of Pasadena hosted by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, September 26th from 6pm to 9pm at Pasadena’s iconic Rose Bowl.
Voting in the cocktail bracket challenge goes live on Wednesday, August 15th.
Complete participant and cocktail information will be posted at www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com.
SIP-tember kicks off with a citywide cocktail party to celebrate the 101st anniversary of the birth of America’s first celebrity chef and Pasadena’s own Julia Child. The Julia Child Pasadena Cocktail Party on August 15th will take place in restaurants all over Pasadena, culminating in a citywide happy birthday toast at 7:00pm. Patrons will be encouraged to dress for a 1950s, 1960s or 1970s era cocktail party.
Restaurants wishing to enter cocktails in the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge can email paul@pasadena-chamber.org for information and details.
In 2012, voters at the SIP-tember Finale made their decision. With 37% of the vote, the Ruth’s Chris Steak House Broad Street Hurricane was chosen the Pasadena Cocktail of the Year 2012.
- Pasadena Chamber Board Members CL Keedy and Tom Daly presented the 2012 Cocktail of the Year trophy to Linda Jordan, Mike Dane and Kenny Luu of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
Many thanks to all the competitors. Congratulations to the four finalist cocktails, the Basil Lemon Martini from Gale’s Restaurant, Magnolia Lounge’s Vinnie Chase and the Finding Nemo from Toro Sushi Bar Lounge, as well as Ruth’s Chris’ Hurricane.
Two hundred people were on hand for the finale of the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. In addition to the four featured cocktail finalists, guests
Attendees at the SIP-tember Bracket Challenge Finale tasted culinary treats from Real Food Daily, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Haven Gastropub+Brewery, Stonefire Grill, El Cholo, Noor Restaurant and Ballroom, California Pizza Kitchen, King’s Row Gastropub, Arclight Cinemas, Toro Sushi and more.
Music for the Cocktail Bracket Challenge Finale was provided by Dance Syndicate. Paseo Colorado very generously provided their plaza space for the event.
The team from Toro Sushi served the Finding Nemo.
The Sip-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge Grand Finale was presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Burbank Bob Hope Airport, Anderson Business Technology, Fair Trade Pasadena, Hillsides, Hilton Pasadena, Pasadena Public Library, Walnut Hill Dental and Zigabid.
Pasadena Magazine is the media sponsor of the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge Finale.
The SIP-tember cocktail bracket challenge is an annual six week long competition among Pasadena Chamber of Commerce member restaurants and lounges. Competitors serve drinks that are paired against each other in a competition.
In our inaugural year, 64 cocktails, ranging from drinks specially concocted for the competition to margaritas and sangria, began the competition that lasted six weeks and culminated in the live taste-off of the four drinks that won their brackets.
Youcan download a pdf of the entire SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge competitors here:
Jamie Parker served Magnolia's Vinnie Chase.
Over the past six weeks, online voters have whittled the list down from 64 cocktails. In total more than 7500 voters were cast during the five weeks of online voting. Congratulations to those who made it through to the Fabulous Four:
You can still taste many of the competitor drinks by visiting the venues that took part in the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge.
2012 SIP-tember and citywide Julia Child cocktail party participants were:
Bill Walden, bartender at Gale's, served the Basil Lemon Martini.
- a/k/a: an American Bistro
- Magnolia Lounge
- Bar Celona
- POP Champagne and Dessert Bar
- Sushi Roku
- The Tap Room at the Langham Huntington Hotel
- Vertical Wine Bistro
- California Pizza Kitchen
- El Portal
- Gale’s
- Ix-tapa
- Green Street Restaurant
- Japon Bistro
- El Cholo
- Villa Sorriso
- Market on Holly
- Bar 1886 at The Raymond
- 300 Pasdena
- New York Deli
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Toro Sushi
SIP-tember kicked off on August 15th with the Citywide Cocktail Party to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of Pasadena’s own Julia Child. SIP-tember is a collaboration of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and our restaurant members. Sponsors of SIP-tember are the Southern California Gas Company Advanced Meter, Trusted Choice Agents of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.