“Oh, do not worry. It is not a big deal. Just a friendly little competition in our neighborhood.” Those were the words I used to describe our annual cocktail contest to a new neighbor. She must have noticed the twinkle in my eye, or it could have been her deep southern roots, but she looked me straight in the eye and said: “Game on! We are in” I knew immediately that I had found a new friend and that our neighborhood had a great new addition!
In the South we are proud and competitive, and we are serious sports fans. We take our friends and family seriously. We take our food and cocktails REALLY seriously. This is the fourth edition of our neighborhood cocktail contest, and it gets bigger and better each year.
We live in the Woodland Hills neighborhood in the Fondren area of Jackson, and years ago, neighbors decided to put on a fun and different party to raise money for a neighborhood maintenance project. The rules were simple. Everyone (adults only) in the neighborhood was invited to bring a cocktail and enough to share. We provided tiny taster cups and large jars for everyone to cast their votes. Votes are $1 apiece and the People’s Choice winner is simply the one with the most money at the end of the night.
This year, we invited three “local celebrities” to be judges, and they determined the official winners. Mary Sanders Ferriss Cavicchi from Campbell’s Bakery and Hal and Mal’s, Kristy Buchanan from The Bean, and Jackson’s very own water czar, Ted Henifin from JXN Water. They were great sports about our outlandish contest and added just the right touch to the judging.
The smack-talk traditionally kicks in during the spring and many folks start planning for next year the day after the contest ends. It has become one of my favorite neighborhood events. These are the cocktail entries from 2024.
Après Spritz
(The 2024 Woodland Hills Cocktail Contest People’s Choice Award)
Our incredibly fun neighbors, Kristen and Jamie Mallinson, have always brought joyful enthusiasm to the contest and this year they won the people’s choice award with their creative cocktail display. The cocktail was delicious and not too boozy. The catchiest part of this drink was the way it is consumed. The Mallinsons drilled five holes along an old wooden snow ski. You placed the cocktail cups in the holes and then you have to coordinate with five people so that everyone has to drink all at once while Jamie and Kristen announced another “shotski!”
There is teamwork and coordination involved, as well as lots of laughs. I made the mistake of pairing with a few very tall neighbors and ended up with cocktail on my face.
3 oz champagne (used brut)
1 oz Pellegrino sparkling water
1 oz Aperol
Mix and pour into each of the five cups on the “shot ski” and enjoy.
The Swiftea
(First Place Winner)
My good friend and real life Swiftie, Clara Kilman, was my partner and inspiration for our entry into the contest. The drink is fantastic and really hits the spot because it is served as a frozen slush. You can make it ahead and put it in your freezer and take it out just before serving. I think that was a huge selling point to the judges on a steamy night.
The other reason we “might” have won was that Clara had very cleverly made personalized friendship bracelets for all the judges. How could they resist that offer and her precious smile! The drink is good, but the friendship bracelets were even better.
2 regular size cans frozen lemonade concentrate, plus one can of water
1 regular size can orange juice concentrate, plus one can of water
2 cups of strong tea (make this by steeping 4 family size teabags in 2 cups water)
2 cups bourbon
Put all ingredients into a freezer safe gallon bag or a large plastic container and put it in the freezer until it is completely frozen or slushy. Scrape or blend when ready to serve.
Bees Knees
with Fondren Honey
(Second Place Winner)
Fondren neighbors, Karen Radosevich and Jim Schott, brought my personal favorite, and wowed the judges as well. They used fresh honey from their backyard, but I am sure any local honey would work as a substitute.
1-part fresh squeeze lemon juice
1.5 parts honey syrup from Fondren bees, steeped with fresh garden mint
2 parts gin
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with about a cup of crushed ice and shake for one minute. Serve immediately.
Mrs. Smith’s “On the Beach”
(Third Place Winner)
Neighbors and Smith families (Ashlee and Brad Smith, and Margaret and Peyton Smith) joined forces to bring a delicious and fun cocktail that everyone needs to consider for their next beach trip.
I think my favorite part of the recipe is the way Ashlee describes the amounts. She explained that a “part” can be a cup, or an ounce depending if you are making one drink or a pitcher. So simple. Why have I not ever thought about it that way.
2 parts 100% agave blanco tequila
1 part Cointreau or other orange flavored liqueur
2 parts pineapple juice
1.5-2 parts coconut cream (not coconut milk) - you want the sticky stuff in the squeeze bottle
1 part margarita mix (The Smiths used Agalima Organic Margarita Mix that is sold at Fresh Market.)
Squeeze of lime
Fill blender full of ice and add ingredients. Blend and serve with salt if desired and a lime.
Donny’s Martini
(Honorable Mention)
Never to be outdone by style or gadgets, Mary Alice and Donny White always stick with a classic and somehow manage to come away as winners. This year was no different. They served a pretty strong martini, but the kicker was the precious napkins that they had made to go along with the theme. It served as a warning to anyone partaking of their strong drink.
The quote on their napkins was from American poet and writer, Dorothy Parker. She was known for her somewhat sassy quotes, and this is no exception.
"I love a martini but two at the most.
Three I'm under the table;
Four, I'm under the host."
Dorothy Parker, Algonquin Hotel 1930s
1.2 ounces Tanqueray Gin
1.2 ounces vodka
2 tablespoons white vermouth (dry)
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Pour into a cold glass and serve with an olive or lemon twist.
The Pink Mississippi Magnolia
One of our newest neighbors from the Fondren Business District is Kinshasa Watson. She brought the cutest “wine trailer” that they have outfitted for parties. It was a big hit and we are so thankful to have her in the Fondren area. They own KRW Design and Gifts on Duling Avenue in the heart of Fondren, and they have so many cute gifts and decorating ideas. Such a welcome addition to our neighborhood.
1 part Magnolia infused Cathead Vodka
1.5 parts Strawberry liqueur
1 part ginger liqueur
0.5 part fresh lemon juice
1 part club soda
Fresh Strawberries
Mix all and serve well-chilled.
The Woodford Reserve Spire
Davetta and Jonathan Lee always elevate the standards at our neighborhood parties and this was no exception. The drink was a Kentucky Derby themed drink made of bourbon with a special twist of cranberry juice and lemonade. It was delicious.
1.5 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon®
2 oz. Lemonade
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
Lemon Twist
Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Palm Royal Grasshopper
The powerful team of Melissa Hutchison, Misty Monroe, Regan Painter, and Molly Walker have won our contest in the past and they did not disappoint this year.
Being big fans of the hilarious Apple TV series Palm Royale set in Palm Beach circa 1969, they went all out and totally dressed the part. Their grasshopper drink was perfect.
2 oz Half and Half
2 Tbsp. (1 oz.) green crème de menthe
2 Tbsp. (1 oz.) clear crème de cocoa
Chocolate syrup, for drizzling
Mix all ingredients except chocolate syrup. Rim martini glass with chocolate and then pour in cocktail. Serve immediately.
The Bee Sting
Our new neighbors, Bizzy Jones and Dana Martin said they were ready for a cocktail contest when they moved in, and they were not kidding. Bizzy’s delicious drink was powerful, and I love the contrast between spicy jalapeno and the sweet blueberries. Bizzy warns: “Note: This is a very stiff, spicy drink. You can add tonic or Topo Chico to thin it out perfectly!!!”
2 oz jalapeño-infused Reposado tequila (slice a jalapeño lengthwise into spears and sink directly into the bottle for at least a few hours - seeds and all, if you are brave. Reposado is definitely recommended for its smokier/sweeter quality)
1 oz honey syrup (mixture of equal parts honey and water with a couple pinches of salt)
Lemon zest, optional but highly recommended
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
Combine and shake with ice.
Serve with blueberries muddled or on a cocktail pick (the “epi-pen” as Bizzy explained to cut the heat from the jalapeno.)
Corona Sunrise
Sperry and Nick Strickland brought the fun and a delightful drink. It was perfect on a hot evening and it really does look like a beautiful sunrise.
Mix equal parts of tequila and orange juice. Then add 1/2 part grenadine to the tequila mixture.
Open a Corrona, pour (or drink) about 2 oz. out of the bottle and replace with the mixture. Serve with a straw and garnish with a lime.
Sai’s Golf Shop
As always, my husband out did himself with his cocktail and set up. He provided a small putting green and gave as many golf lessons as he dished out cocktails. He served two different varieties of his cocktail, and both were favorites. I think if we judged based on amount served at the end of the night, he would have been the overall winner.
The Hollywood
The Hollywood drink was first given to my husband on a golf course in Arizona. We substituted Cathead Satsuma for the regular vodka and it was delicious.
1 1/2 ounces vodka (We used Cathead Satsuma)
1 - 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
2 to 4 dashes of orange bitters
4 - 6 ounces soda water, we used tangerine sparkling water
Mix and serve over ice and a tall glass. Garnish with a slice of orange.
Irish Mulligan
This is basically the same drink, but he substituted Irish whiskey for the vodka to provide a slightly different taste.
1 1/2 ounces Jamison Irish whiskey
1 - 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
2 to 4 dash orange bitters
4 - 6 ounces of soda water, we used tangerine sparkling water
Mix all and serve ice and tall glass. Garnish with an orange slice if desired.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Tyler Jones joined us for the evening and brought a delightful cocktail around the theme of her favorite movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She completed the drink with edible glitter, Tiffany blue accents and, of course, some rhinestones scattered over the table. She wore a precious black dress and pearls that brought a touch of class to our rowdy group. The drink was absolutely delicious, and it made such a fun theme.
1 bottle of champagne
2 cups lemonade
1/4 cup blue curaçao
Edible glitter
Talk Derby to Me
Torri and Alex Martin and their precious friend, Dr. Jasmine Kency brought another Kentucky Derby themed drink. This one might go down as the easiest to prepare, and it was definitely one of my favorites.
I have already tracked down a bottle of the whiskey and bought two for my summer cocktail stash. It is worth a try.
You cannot get much easier than this, but and drink is really good!!
Mix equal parts Starlight Blackberry Bourbon and Milo's Lemonade.
Serve over ice.
Spaghett
Jen and Jay McGehee and Emily and Stewart Whitaker served a drink that Bon Appetit magazine recently called “their favorite summer cocktail.” It is considered to be a low-key version of the Negroni. If you exchange the Aperol for Campari, it is called a Camparty. Swap the Miller High Life for Pabst and you have a NASCAR Spritz.
The booth was spectacular, and their drink is perfect to serve on a hot Mississippi summer.
12 oz Miller High Life
1.5 oz Aperol
5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ask your guests to take a swig of beer to make room for the Aperol and lemon. Serve ice cold.
Aperol Spritz
The amazing and creative team of Cristina Lazzari and Jain Bourne brought a simple but delicious Aperol Spritz. They also brought some of their delicious sweet treats that made the perfect pairing to the drink.
1 part Aperol
1 part Prosecco
1 part club soda
1 Slice of fresh orange
Mix and serve over ice immediately.
O. Beer Curtis Water Plant
The creative and capable team of Kendall Garraway and Lisa Dyess focused more on style than mixology and were a BIG hit with our guests. Since Ted Henifin was one of the judges, they wanted to highlight his work on the Jackson water system.
Kendall and Lisa offered a choice of dark and light beers in honor of our occasional past water colors. They then offered Fireball Whisky shots to ensure everything went down smoothly. Everything was served in great fun and quite a suitable tribute to all of Mr. Henifin’s hard work.
Furthermore, the ice cold beer they served was quite popular on a steamy June evening.
