SILVER STAR CAFE’S ‘ICE BOMB’ BLOWS AWAY THE COMPETITION IN PCARA SUMMER COCKTAIL CONTEST

PARK CITY, Utah (Aug. 2016) — The star’s gone supernova. 

Silver Star Café’s eye-popping “LaBounty Bourbon Ice Bomb” blasted past the competition in the Park City Area Restaurant Association’s Summer Cocktail Contest, which ended on July 31, earning top marks for its kinetic presentation and refreshing flavor.  

The bourbon- and port-based cocktail earned an average 10 out of 10 rating from 265 voters who cast their ballots online. The next closest libation, from The Brass Tag, also averaged 10 out of 10 from 142 voters.  

Silver Star mixologist Jeff LaBounty will be awarded a $200 cash prize and will be featured in a marketing campaign leading up to the PCARA’s popular fall “Dine About” event. Plus, in a town with more than 30 top-notch bars and restaurants, Jeff gets to take home some serious bragging rights.  

“Jeff’s cocktail is really just so much fun: it’s whimsical, it’s creative, it’s surprising, it’s totally different than just about anything you’ve seen. This is very cool, and it absolutely deserves the top spot in this year’s competition,” Silver Star Cafe owner Lisa Ward said. “We thank everyone who cast their ballots, the PCARA for hosting another stellar competition, and we can’t wait to welcome folks to try Jeff’s standout creation.”  

The LaBounty Bourbon Ice Bomb starts with a hollowed ice sphere with a hole drilled at the top. Sugar House Bourbon, Warre’s Otima 10-Year-Old Tawny Port and Bianca Vermouth are stirred in a tall mixing glass along with house-made balsamic organic cane syrup, black-walnut bitters and peach bitters, plus an ice cube. The frozen sphere’s then placed in a bucket glass, and using a small funnel, the liquid from the mixing glass is poured into the ice sphere. The drink’s garnished with a fresh peach and served immediately, using a small mallet to crack the sphere open table-side. As the cocktail spills into the glass, the ice sphere turns into the rocks for the drink.  

“I hadn’t quite seen anything like this before – it was really cool, and tasty, too,” PCARA executive director Ginger Ries said. “Thanks again to all the restaurants who competed and all the fans who voted online and made this such a big success.”

Voting was open online on the PCARA website July 1-31. Twenty-one bars and restaurants took part. All entries and recipes can be found on the PCARA web site at www.parkcityrestaurants.com. 

“Online voting gave all PCARA members a chance to participate, driving business to each establishment and giving guests the opportunity to cast a vote,” Ries said. “It was really a town-wide contest.”

 To learn more, visit the PCARA website or contact Christa Graff, of Graff Public Relations, by calling 435-640-7921 or emailing christa@graffpr.com. 

About the Park City Area Restaurant Association 

The Park City Area Restaurant Association is the umbrella organization for more than 50 restaurants in Park City, Utah. The organization supports and promotes the large variety of award-winning restaurants in the Park City area. Every year, thousands of residents and visitors are exposed to Park City’s eclectic dining options through a variety of events that the Park City Area Restaurant Association hosts. The events include Savor the Summit, Park City Dine About and the Online Cocktail Contest. For a list of member restaurants, their locations, cuisines, pricing and features, please visit www.parkcityrestaurants.com. Visit the Park City Area Restaurant Association’s Twitter and Facebook sites for current restaurant information and dining specials.