San Clemente's top drink contest ends in a tie

It could be that taste of sweet and sour or that special punch you get from a cocktail that makes you take notice.

For the judges at the 2012 San Clemente Original Drink Contest on Thursday evening, original and creative flavors infusing a combination of local spirit and sass took top placing.

This year the contest ended in a tie between bartenders Yvonne Kimball of Ole's Tavern for her drink, “Poche Punch,” and OC Tavern’s Kirsten Garber for “Gin & Berries.”

The winning entries will be served at all 11 competing locations for the next year as San Clemente’s “official drinks” beginning at $8 to $10 a cocktail.

The People’s Choice award went to Red Fox Lounge’s Sally Daniel with “Sally Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore.” Best Presentation went to Kimball for her handcarved baby coconut glass inscribed with the name of her drink.

SEE A SLIDESHOW FROM THE CONTEST HERE.

Garber said it took her only a few hours to come up with her concoction, but she’s been serving and refining it with the help of her regulars during the past month. Garber said it’s not a fast drink to make, which slows her down in a high-volume bar like OC Tavern. She found that by having some ingredients premade, the process goes quicker.

“You have to have a little bit of what you like in a drink,” Garber said. “A big part is quality ingredients, and so I use Nolets Gin with all fresh ingredients.”

Asked whether her personality comes out in the drink, Garber slowed down long enough for her best friend, Taylor Letterman, to cut in and answer, “Sassy, bold and original!”

Kimball from Ole’s Tavern said it’s all about bringing ingredients together in a smooth, soft, subtle way that hits you with a punch at the end. Poche Punch began the journey to the winner’s circle at her engagement party, where she used similar fresh baby coconut containers to serve drinks.

The past few months, she used her fellow bartenders to fine-tune the recipe, getting it to where she liked it – smooth, subtle and not too sweet, with a bright finish that refreshes.

“I love local S.C.,” Kimball said. “And to me, Poche Punch is what San Clemente is all about.”

The judges, San Clemente Mayor Jim Evert, Southern California Gas’ Emily Smith, Hair Affair Salon’s Holly Lynch, Marine Capt. Rob Lee and Rainbow Sandals’ Pat Huber, along with a bar full of people’s choice experts at Sunsets at the Pier, tried the original recipes of eight other competitors – Sundried Tomato, Duke’s, Brick, Taka-O, Cafe Mimosa, Sunsets at the Pier, Adele's at the San Clemente Inn and St. Roy at Vine.

Vince Bough, along with fellow mixologist Jared Cook from St. Roy, built their entry, “Mexican Penicillin,” around San Clemente tequila maker Peligroso, which donated the main ingredient for the pair Thursday.

“It’s all about keeping it local San Clemente for us,” Bough said.