HopMonk’s Martini wins top spot

HopMonk Tavern’s “Flying Monkey” was the big winner at the 15th annual Martini Madness at MacArthur Place.

The event, the first in a series of events celebrating the olive harvest in Sonoma Valley, is considered the first “big party” of the year in town for locals and out of town guests alike.

Ten local restaurants and bars participated in the event, with bartenders creating cocktails (while it’s called Martini Madness, usually the only thing “Martini” about any of it is the glass!) using alcohol from local producers Prohibition Spirits, Hanson of Sonoma Vodkas and Spirit Works Distillery.

Attendees vote on their favorites (“People’s Choice”) and a group of judges (including myself, Chris Sawyer and Ziggy Eschliman) selected the best Martini and best use of the olive from their viewpoint.

HopMonk took the award for Best Overall Martini as chosen by both the judges and the attendees. HopMonk Tavern won last year’s best Overall Martini from the people’s choice vote, too.

The cocktail, named after the flying monkey’s in the Wizard of Oz, use Uncle Val’s Gin (produced by local purveyor 3 Badge Mixology) and Prohibition Spirits’ FigCello, along with lemon juice, orange flavor, water, and black pepper simple syrup. It was paired with a deep fried olive topped with bacon – it paired perfectly with the cocktail.

Hopmonk also won Best Use of the Olive in the People’s Choice (it was my favorite, too!) with 38 Degrees North at the Fairmont winning Best Use of the Olive by the judges for stuffing an olive with a scallop to serve with it’s “St. Jacques Martini.”

Finally, Saddles Steakhouse took Most Creative from the people’s choice – their Star Wars themed installation was really awesome and the staff went all out with costumes.

We’ll be publishing HopMonk Tavern’s winning martini recipe in the next issue of the Sun!