Mer-tini Shakedown: A high-spirited competition

Local bars and restaurants are gearing up for the third annual Mermaid Society SMTX’s Mer-tini Shakedown, a friendly – yet fierce – competition among local mixologists to create the best  Mer-tini cocktail using Dripping Springs Vodka.

This Saturday, 16 cocktail masters will represent some of San Marcos’ most popular restaurants and bars and compete for bragging rights, a handcrafted trophy created by a local artist and a $300 cash prize. Second place will take home a $250 cash prize.

This year’s Mer-tini competitors include: Zelicks, Palmers, Louie's Oyster Bar, Ivars River Pub, Embassy Suites’ Rocky River Grille, Kiva, Stonewall Warehouse, Taproom, The Spot, The Holiday Inn’s Spring Bistro and Bar, Aquabrew, Chances R, Sean Patricks, Crafthouse, Freddy C's Lounge and The Porch.

In this high-spirited event, the bartenders will compete to create the best Mermaid-inspired Martini – or Mer-tini. Each Mer-tini will be considered by a panel of judges tapped by Mermaid Society to evaluate the cocktails based on taste, their ability to factor in mermaid elements in the presentation, creativity and fanfare. The interpretation of the criteria is loose; mermaid elements can be colors, figurines, ingredients or any other way the bar can think to dress the drink.

Two teams of judges – the Aqua Team and the Downtown Team – will travel from site to site and sip on tasty concoctions to determine who will go to the finals. Judges will score each category and tally the points to determine a semifinalists from each team. The two semifinalists will then go on to compete at the Shakedown Finals to be held on the rooftop during the Mermaid Society Art Ball on Sept. 21. Society Ball guests will then vote for their favorite Mer-tini cocktail and at the end of the night vote cards will be tallied and the champion will be announced. 

Those that want to follow along the routes of the Aqua Team and Downtown Team to cheer on their favorite bars are welcome to attend. Bars and restaurants will be offering drink and food specials at locations at their own discretion.

“People are encouraged to come out and root for their favorite bar or their favorite mixologists, and there's a certain percentage of the voting that depends on the fanfare – so the people cheering are important too,” Mermaid Society founder July Moreno said.

The official sponsors for the Mer-tini Shakedown are Dripping Springs Vodka, Movemint Bike Cab and La Cima. Movemint Bike Cab will be providing a limited amount of complimentary – though donations are appreciated – pedicab rides from station to station throughout the evening of the Mer-tini Shakedown Competition.

The 2018 Mer-tini Shakedown Competition will start at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15. For more information, go to the Mermaid Society SMTX's website.