Local cocktail enthusiasists and our Valley's top bartenders are preparing for one of the biggest cocktail events of the year, and you can already feel the local buzz. The 7th annual Vodka Cocktail Contest will be held at Suzie's Dogs and Drafts on Febraury 4th starting at 7PM.

Craft and premium cocktails are one of the fastest growing components of the beveerage / bar industry and local bartneders are looking forward to showing off their knowledge and skills. The event welcomes both amateur mixologists and professional bartenders from some of our Valley's hippest establishments.

A new addition to this year's event is the "Flair Bartending Demo" which will display some of the showmanship and acrobatics that were featured in the 1980's Tom Cruise movie "Cocktail". Flair bartending has re-emerged as an important part of the carft cocktail movement, adding additional entertainment to the tasty concoctions.

The event is sponsored by locally owned Candella Micro Spirits and Vesica Vodka. Candella Micro Spirits produces Y-Town Vodka, which is distilled from pure cane sugar instead of potatoes, grains or grapes. Y-Town Vodka won two gold medals at the 8th Annual Craft Amercian Spirits Competition.

This local event is conducted by Polish Youngstown. Many of the bartenders and judges will come from the bars where their "Polish Happy Hour" events take place. Anyone interested in being involved in the event as a bartender or judge can contact Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer, Director of Polish Youngstown. You can reach her via email at aundrea@polishyoungstown.org