Mixologists go head-to-head in 7D Mixology Throwdown

Two Central Coast mixologists faced off in Carmel-by-the-Sea for 7D’s Mixology Throwdown.

Dozens of people packed the Seventh and Dolores Steakhouse Monday night to watch the two compete for best cocktail.

Joshua Perry was up against Olana Sullivan in the final round.

Guests were invited to the try the cocktails and watch the two go head to head.

Perry and Sullivan made it to the final showdown after winning two other rounds of competition each.

“It’s a huge rush. There have been seven other great competitors in this competition so it has been an honor to go against them. They all have phenomenal skills and phenomenal palates so you have to bring your A game every single time, it’s a great experience,” said Joshua Perry, mixologist and Bar Director at Cultura Comida y BebidaCarmel.

“I haven’t competed before and I’m finding that I really like it. I’m getting this fire lit under me that I haven’t felt ever before so it’s challenging me in a whole new way,” said Olana Sullivan, owner of Pour Girl Bartending.

Raul Nava, Eat & Drink Contributor for the Monterey County Weekly, Mary Schley with the Carmel Pine Cone and Steb Montez with KRML Radio judged the event. The crowd also got to vote for their favorite cocktail.

Perry and Sullivan were tasked with making three cocktails, one with Hennessey, one with a secret ingredient and one creative cocktail.

There was a tie in the final round forcing the two to come up with a tiebreaker cocktail.

Joshua Perry won the competition with a mocktail made up of coconut water, cherry syrup, orgeat, lime juice, soda water, shoyu essence and mint chiffonade.

The proceeds from the event went to CReW, a non-profit healthcare assistance for restaurant workers.