Official Drink of Santa Barbara 2019: The Lark’s Sticky Fingers

A very festive, jam-packed, hard-to-quiet El Paseo Restaurant played the perfect home to Visit Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Independent’s third annual “Official Drink of Santa Barbara” cocktail contest last Thursday, June 20. Emcee Gabe Saglie, senior editor at Travelzoo, couldn’t help but joke that we were in for a “stiff” competition. Indeed it was, as all five finalists had their concoctions built, according to the rules, around one of hometown Cutler’s Artisan Spirits. The drinks had to be “hyperlocal, hyper regional,” said Saglie, and, of course, delicious.

The five finalists, chosen by an online vote via Independent.com, were The Glen Annie, redolent of citrus and fennel, by Angel Oak Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara; Lucky Me, a grilled-strawberry and whiskey pleaser, by Convivo; Eucalyptus Lane, a ginger, Ojai pixie, gin delight topped with eucalyptus-tangerine bubbles, by Finch & Fork; The Queen’s Rose, a rose-infused, Campari-fueled sipper, by Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen; and Sticky Fingers — which we’ll get to — by The Lark.

Each establishment’s team of two had three minutes to prep and seven minutes to mix up their drink for the panel of judges, all while providing the cocktail’s inspiration and story. That meant stories about the Hollisters settling Goleta, about the Mission and its rose garden (Finney’s team even wore rose T-shirts to underscore their point), and shout-outs to hot spots that have helped make Santa Barbara such a delight to drink in over the past few years. That’s how Misty Orman and Brandon Ristaino of Good Lion, Test Pilot, and Shaker Mill had a presence at the event without even being there.