More than 350 guests were there to sip, savor and celebrate at Coastal Virginia Magazine’s CoVa Cocktail craft cocktail competition featuring Waterman Spirits on May 14, 2025, at Rivers Casino Portsmouth.
This delightful evening included sample cocktails from competing mixologists representing 16 different local restaurants, delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres from Rivers Casino, entertainment from Colonial DJs and photo booth fun courtesy of Coastal Glamour Photo Booth.
Mixologists created some truly unique and innovative cocktails using Waterman Spirits vodkas. Guests voted on their favorites as did a panel of expert judges, which included Brittany Herlig, beverage director at Love Song in Virginia Beach; Sasha Johnson, beverage director at iLo Bistro in Norfolk; and Leona Baker, editor-in-chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine.
Luce Secondo in Chesapeake walked away with the People’s Choice award for mixologist Brittany Perry’s “Palazzo del Freddo” featuring Waterman Spirits Perfect Crush, cocoa hazelnut orgeat, candied orange peel simple syrup, citrus, orange bitters and Galliano Foam.
The Judges’ Choice award went to Megan Duncan with Harper’s Table in Suffolk for her “Passion & Pearl” with Waterman Spirits Organic Vodka, Lillet Blanc, pear nectar, passion fruit and lychee agua fresca, lime, honeysuckle and lemongrass foam.
Special thanks to Waterman Spirits, Rivers Casino Portsmouth and all of the competing restaurants including 508 Crafthouse, Amber Ox Public House, Blue Pete’s Restaurant, Frank and Patty’s, Harper’s Table, High Street Pizza & Pour House, Luce Secondo, Ocean Eddies Seafood Restaurant, Pacifica, Rivers Casino, Smithfield Station, Sushi Vice, The Atlantic on Pacific, The Bee and The Biscuit, Vintage Tavern and Wang Jiang Lou.
See all photos from the event here.
Mercedes Bethune
