CoVa Cocktail Party — The Cravings Queen

Whew. It’s been TOO long since I’ve done an event blog post. I’m fully vaxxed and ready to dip my toe back into the event world. I was ecstatic to get an invite to the revamped CoVa Cocktail Party at Virginia MOCA on Thursday, Sept. 23.

About the CoVa Cocktail Party

The CoVa Cocktail Party invites some of the area’s best mixologists, from local restaurants, to shake, mix and stir up custom cocktails. There were previous CoVa Cocktail parties in 2017 and 2018, but I did not attend them. With a new vision, and a fantastic partnership with Woodford Reserve, CoVa Cocktail Party 2021 was back and set to be better than ever.

CoVa Cocktail Party 2021

This year’s sold-out event showcased the talent and creativity of 10 mixologists from restaurants across Coastal Virginia. Their challenge: to develop a cocktail using Woodford Reserve’s premium bourbon.

A limited number of tickets were sold for this event at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Coastal Virginia Magazine asked that unvaccinated attendees wear masks, per CDC guidelines. While I’d prefer if all attendees, at any event I go to, show proof of vaccination, I know that can be a tricky rule to enforce in today’s climate. Still, having a cap on the number of people who attended the CoVa Cocktail Party made me feel better about going.

Each of the 10 mixologists/restaurants got their own table set up around MOCA’s main lobby. At the center of it all was a massive spread from Yummy Goodness Catering Co. Everything from charcuterie with meats and cheeses to dainty cucumber sandwiches, pimento cheese and crackers, creamy crab dip and even more that I missed because I wasn’t quick enough. The highlight of the grazing table were the cups of bacon. You really don’t see strips of bacon at events, but I need us, as a society, to make that the norm. After drinking a few of those handcrafted cocktails, two or three pieces of bacon really hit the spot. Yummy Goodness is ahead of the curve on that one.

Across MOCA’s auditorium, I made my way into the VIP area, offering a chill place to unwind. I took a second to look around and before I knew it, someone from Yummy Goodness was offering me a passed appetizer. Tuna poke bowls served with an adorable tiny shovel immediately caught my attention. I was so focused on the poke that I let a few other appetizers pass right by me.

Out of the 10 cocktails at the CoVa Cocktail Party, I tried all but one because I got too distracted by everything else going on around me. Of the nine I imbibed, here are my three favorites, in no particular order.

Hunter Heri, Glass Light

Despite being the first table when you walked into the event, Hunter Heri of Norfolk’s Glass Light Hotel named his cocktail “Number Zero.” Hunter’s drink had the most dynamic flavors, while still being a great sipper. He used a mix of lemon juice and grapefruit cinnamon cordial with grapefruit and angostura bitters, Woodford Reserve and sage leaves. The end result was a spiced yet tangy concoction that stayed on my mind all night.

Jay Young, The Bee and the Biscuit

When I go to The Bee and the Biscuit, located in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach, I typically sip one of the seasonal mimosas or a Bloody Mary while I wait for my table and eat. Jay Young’s creation for the CoVa Cocktail Party, The Pungo Bonfire, has me convinced that I need to branch out a bit more next time I go to the restaurant. This drink was literally s’mores in a cup, combining Woodford Reserve, a simple syrup with coconut sugar, vanilla and toasted marshmallow, and chocolate bitters in a cup rimmed with melted Hershey’s chocolate and graham crackers. I’m usually not a fan of sweeter drinks, especially ones with chocolate, but I’m a believer now. The chocolate and marshmallow flavors perfectly complemented the toffee and caramel notes of the Woodford Reserve.

Krystal Hall, Coastal Grill

Krystal Hall with Coastal Grill in Virginia Beach went with a seasonal spin on an Old Fashioned. The appropriately named Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Cider takes a classic Old Fashioned and adds homemade cider, cinnamon tincture wash and an apple slice for garnish. While some of the mixologists took a more daring approach to their entries, I appreciated a drink that felt familiar.

Take a look at all nine drinks here, and follow me on TikTok for more video content!

Each attendee got a coin to vote for their favorite drink of the night. There would be two winners, the Judge’s Choice and the People’s Choice.

The judges chose the Two Up Two Down cocktail created by Sasha Johnson of Heirloom in Virginia Beach. This drink as made with waffle cone wash, Amaro, salted Virginia peanut orgeat syrup, acidic adjusted apple juice and precisely three drops of cocktail foamer. The cocktail was garnished with popcorn that was drizzled with a Woodford Reserve-infused caramel. While this drink had an ingredient list that I had to Google, I will say that Sasha had phenomenal presentation, including spritzing the cocktail with what I believe she called “cotton candy essence.”

People’s Choice winner was Nick Matamoros of Amedeo’s Ristorante in Suffolk. His drink, Equipoise, was a “balance of forces” using Woodford Reserve, Grand Marnier, a hibiscus, ginger and lemon grass concentration, topped with ginger ale. I had a feeling this would be a fan favorite when I saw the line to get the drink. The edible flower was definitely an eye-catching addition to the cocktail.

Along with the handcrafted cocktails and fantastic food, it was so great reconnecting with friends and meeting new ones in a social, party setting. I’d like to thank Coastal Virginia Magazine for having me at the event and commend them on their hard work putting this party together. In a time when the restaurant industry is still in a tumultuous state, it’s so nice to have an event that showcases our local restaurants and introduces people new ones. I hope this is the first of many new and improved CoVa Cocktail Parties to come!