The annual Wizards of Elixirs Cocktail Competitors, celebrating the inventive spirit of the Wine Nation bartending group, raised its highest quantity up to now on Oct. 28.
Photographs by TRYBE Artistic
This yr’s seventh annual occasion at Brewsters Beer Backyard in Petaluma introduced in a document $19,280.63 for Petaluma’s Lively Membership 20-30 and Una Vida, two grassroots organizations serving native households in want. Hosted by The Excellent Purée of Napa Valley and Charbay Distillery, the fundraiser drew 425 friends, many wearing full Halloween aptitude.
This yr’s effort holds particular significance, as each Lively 20-30 and Una Vida work to scale back meals insecurity within the Petaluma group. Resident Megan McClelland, who has held a number of management positions in Petaluma Lively 20-30 and attended Wizards of Elixirs since 2017, mentioned she was honored to be approached this yr for a partnership. “The cash raised shall be going again to Petaluma Lively 20-30 and Una Vida, two non-profits in Petaluma very close to and expensive to my coronary heart that assist assist youngsters and households in want,” McClelland says.
“Wizards of Elixirs is my favourite Halloween occasion! It’s so a lot enjoyable to see completely different individuals from completely different bars and eating places all through Sonoma and Napa County come collectively for a superb trigger. The costumes have been unimaginable and the drinks have been all superior as properly!”
Una Vida’s government director, Lynne Moquete, mentioned collaborating in Wizards of Elixirs was pure pleasure. “The creativity and themed magic from each crew blew us away,” Moquete mentioned. “It was a good looking reminder of how our group comes collectively to have a good time each other whereas uplifting households who want assist.”
Tommy Cracraft of the successful Fern Bar crew has participated 4 years in a row and mentioned 2025 was the most effective competitors but. “I need to thank Marko and Johnny for once more organizing an occasion filled with nice individuals, unbelievable meals and crushable drinks,” Cracraft mentioned. “And thanks to everybody who got here out to assist, we couldn’t do it with out you all!”
The Excellent Purée CEO Michele Lex echoed the sentiment. “Seeing 17 proficient groups come collectively to showcase their creativity whereas supporting Una Vida’s and Lively 20-30’s important work in Petaluma is what this occasion is all about,” Lex mentioned.
“The Excellent Purée is honored to accomplice with Charbay Distillery to create an evening the place distinctive cocktails meet significant group impression.”
Bartending groups from 17 prime Wine Nation institutions vied for the coveted Individuals’s Alternative award and money prizes. Their sample-size drinks featured Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka and a Excellent Purée taste (or two) of alternative. The group additionally cheered their favourite costumes together with the duos Santa & The Elf, Bonnie & Clyde, a marionette doll, Dr. Doom, a Costco card and a scorching canine.
Jake Carlson and Tommy Cracraft of Sebastopol’s Fern Bar gained the $1,000 first prize AND the $500 fashionable vote for his or her OJ Beet the Case cocktail with The Excellent Purée Peach Ginger. Dylan Martini of Napa’s 1331 Cocktails took second place and $750 with Ghoul-Support that includes The Excellent Purée Inexperienced Apple and Tamarind. Third place and $500 went to Jeffrey Henrie of Healdsburg’s Lo & Behold for Krog’s Grog with The Excellent Purée Thai Basil & Black Pepper.
2025 Successful Recipes
First Place & Individuals’s Alternative:
Picture by TRYBE Artistic
OJ Beet the Case
by Jake Carlson & Tommy Cracraft, Fern Bar
Elements
- 2 oz. Cinnamon-infused Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka*
- 1 oz. Acid-adjusted The Excellent Purée Peach Ginger**
- 1 oz. Golden Beet Kvass***
- 3/4 oz. Ginger Orgeat Syrup****
- Dehydrated Orange Slice
- Charred Pickled Beet in a Blood Orange and Purple Wine Vinegar Pickle Brine
Preparation
- Mix all cocktail substances (besides the charred pickled beet) in a shaker with ice.
- Shake properly and pressure over ice right into a Collins glass.
- Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice and a charred pickled beet.
*Cinnamon-Infused Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka
Elements
- 1 bottle Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
Preparation
- Add cinnamon sticks to vodka and infuse to desired energy.
**Acid-Adjusted The Excellent Purée Peach Ginger
Elements
- The Excellent Purée Peach Ginger
- Powdered Citric Acid
Preparation
- Add 85.265 g powdered citric acid per liter of purée to imitate the acidity stage of lemon juice.
***Golden Beet Kvass
Elements
- Complete Golden Beets
- Water
- Salt
Preparation
- Mix beets, water, and salt. Ferment for 7 days to create a probiotic kvass.
****Ginger Orgeat Syrup
Elements
- 1 half Orgeat Syrup
- 1 half Ginger Syrup (1:1 contemporary ginger juice + sugar)
Preparation
- Combine equal elements orgeat and ginger syrup till absolutely integrated.
Second Place:
Picture by TRYBE Artistic
Ghoul-Support
by Dylan Martini, 1331 Cocktails
Elements
- 1 1/2 oz. Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka
- 1 oz. Inexperienced Apple & Tamarind Syrup*
- 3/4 oz. Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz. Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato
- 1/4 oz. Bitter Bianco Liqueur
- Brûlée Apple Chip
Preparation
- Mix all substances in a shaker.
- Shake properly.
- Double pressure over crushed ice right into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a brûlée apple chip.
Inexperienced Apple & Tamarind Syrup*
Elements
- 30 oz. The Excellent Purée Inexperienced Apple Puree
- 30 oz. The Excellent Purée Tamarind Puree
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Sugar
Preparation
- Mix purees in a saucepan.
- Add water and sugar and convey to a boil.
- Cut back warmth and simmer till the combination thickens.
- Stir and pressure via a cheese fabric.
- Let cool utterly and refrigerate till use.
Third Place:
Picture by TRYBE Artistic
Krog’s Grog
by Jeffery Henrie, Lo & Behold
Elements
- 1 1/2 oz. Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka
- 1/2 oz. The Excellent Purée Thai Basil & Black Pepper
- 1/4 oz. Lime Juice
- 1/4 oz. Inexperienced Peppercorn Nuoc Cham*
- 1/8 oz. Coco Lopez
- Contemporary Thai Basil
- Cracked Black Pepper
Preparation
- Mix all substances besides contemporary Thai basil and cracked black pepper in a shaker with ice.
- Shake properly for 10 seconds.
- Double pressure over contemporary ice in a glass.
- Garnish with contemporary Thai basil and cracked black pepper.
*Inexperienced Peppercorn Nuoc Cham
Elements
- 1 oz. Contemporary Ginger, chopped
- 2 Complete Jalapeños, chopped
- 2 oz. Inexperienced Peppercorns in Brine
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup Lime Juice
- 1/4 cup Pure Rice Vinegar
- Zest of two Limes
Preparation
- Add all substances to a Vitamix blender and puree.
- Pressure via a effective mesh strainer.
About The Excellent Purée of Napa Valley
For over 35 years, The Excellent Purée of Napa Valley has indulged the culinary ardour of cooks, mixologists and meals fanatics with merchandise that present final contemporary fruit taste minus the peeling, dicing and simmering required for making purées from scratch. The corporate’s assortment of fruit purées, specialties, blends and zests options 43 on-trend premium flavors starting from pantry staples Purple Raspberry, Strawberry and Banana to the tropical Lychee, Ardour Fruit and Pink Guava. The fruits are harvested at peak ripeness, puréed and packed frozen to take care of optimum freshness, taste and coloration it doesn’t matter what the season.
Because the main U.S. producer of premium fruit purées with foodservice distribution all through the U.S., Canada and Mexico, The Excellent Purée of Napa Valley is revered in eating places, lodges, bars, bakeries and catering kitchens for the just-picked style and unmatched consistency of its merchandise. All flavors will be frozen for as much as 24 months from date of manufacture. When thawed, the purées, concentrates and specialties final 7-10 days within the fridge, and blends for 21 days. For extra data, go to www.perfectpuree.com or observe on Instagram or Fb @theperfectpuree.
About Charbay Distillery
The Karakasevic household is without doubt one of the early pioneers of the trendy American artisan distillery motion; they started distilling in California in 1983 with alambic pot nonetheless brandy and haven’t stopped since. Charbay’s line-up consists of whiskeys distilled from bottle-ready beer, brandies distilled from Napa Valley grapes, vodkas flavored with one hundred pc actual fruit or tea, and rum distilled from sugar cane syrup. Marko Karakasevic is the thirteenth technology to hold on his household’s European heritage of fermenting and distilling. His 25-year apprenticeship coated each class of distilling. For extra data, go to charbay.com.
About The Petaluma Lively Membership 20-30
The Petaluma Lively 20-30 Membership is a volunteer-led group of younger professionals devoted to bettering the lives of underserved youngsters within the Petaluma group. The membership raises funds year-round for back-to-school buying journeys and haircuts. It awards scholarships to native seniors and helps packages that uplift youth. As a part of the Lively 20-30 U.S. and Canadian community, the Petaluma membership sponsors group service, management improvement and enjoyable social occasions for an enduring impression. Electronic mail petaluma2030@gmail.com for extra data.
About Una Vida
Una Vida is a Petaluma-based grassroots nonprofit group based in 1997 by Lynne Gordon Moquete. The group is devoted to assembly important primary wants and constructing significant connections inside the local people. Una Vida supplies important assets comparable to meals, clothes and family requirements to people and households.
Volunteers are the center of its work, generously providing their time, energ, and care to assist guarantee assist reaches those that want it most. Guided by a mission to empower, join and encourage a way of life of service, Una Vida works to create a stronger and extra compassionate group for all. Electronic mail lynne@una-vida.org for extra data.
