For 2014, SIP-tember: A Celebration of the Cocktail returns August 15th for six weeks, culminating in the Taste of Pasadena and SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge Finale on September 25th at the Rose Bowl.
Pasadena celebrates the cocktail during SIP-tember, with some of our favorite Pasadena Chamber member restaurants offering some of their favorite cocktails. Trattoria Neapolis, Kings Row Gastroub, Japon Bistro and Vertical Wine Bistro are joined by New York Deli’s Speakeasy, SORRISO, Bar 1886 at the Raymond and Bar Celona, as well as PUNCH in taking the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge.
Drinks being offered for the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge include special margaritas, new interpretations of traditional cocktail and some specially created drinks from some of Pasadena’s premiere mixologists.
During SIP-tember, you can taste the Far East Mule or Pear Martini from Sushi Roku. And, you can try the Jala Pina Rita from Ruth’s Chris Steak House or their Strawberry Basil Gimlet. Central Park offers their popular Sangria or you can recover from the work week (or work day) with their Stress Reliever. Revisit your childhood (but with vodka) when you taste the Orange Julius from Clearman’s Galley or refresh with a Pomegranate Martini. Some participants pulled out all the stops. Try the liquid nitrogen chilled Bangkok Monkey at Salt at iPic Theater or the Vin de Pomplemousse at Green Street or maybe PUNCH's smokey El Bombero.
That’s not all! A/K/A Bistro has two new drinks on the menu, the Jalopeno and Cucumber and the Fair Trade Tea. Want to try an Exquisite Old 
Once again, SIP-tember: A Celebration of the Cocktail culminates in a grand taste-off at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Everyone attending the Taste of Pasadena that evening will be able to taste the four finalist cocktails and vote for your favorite.
The Sip-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge Grand Finale was presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce as a Pasadena Restaurant Week event sponsored by The City of Pasadena and Trusted Choice Agents of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena.
The SIP-tember cocktail bracket challenge is an annual six week long competition among Pasadena Chamber of Commerce member restaurants and lounges. Competitors served drinks that were paired against each other in a competition.
SIP-tember kicks off with a citywide cocktail party to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the birth of America’s first culinary celebrity - Pasadena’s own Julia Child. The Julia Child Pasadena Cocktail Party on August 15th takes place in restaurants all over Pasadena, culminating in a citywide happy birthday toast at 7:00pm. Patrons were encouraged to dress for a 1950s, 1960s or 1970s era cocktail party.
Venues offering cocktails for the 2014 SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge include:
- Vertical Wine Bistro,
- a/k/a an American Bistro,
- Central Park Restaurant
- Clearman’s Galley,
- El Cholo,
- New York Deli's Speakeasy,
- Trattoria Neapolis,
- Green Street Restaurant,
- ix-tapa cantina,
- Bar Celona,
- Villa SORRISO
- California Pizza Kitchen-Pasadena,
- The Otis Bar at La Grande Orange
- Sushi Roku-Pasadena,
- BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse-Pasadena,
- Dog Haus Biergarten,
- Salt at iPic Theaters,
- Kings Row Gastropub,
- The Tap Room at the Langham Pasadena,
- Bistro 45
- Panda Inn Pasadena
- The Luggage Room at La Grande Orange
- Bar 1886 at The Raymond,
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- PUNCH
- Japon Bistro
- Beckham Grill and Crown Pub
- Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
- Salt at iPic Theaters
- Brookside Golf Club
Many of Pasadena’s restaurants and lounges take part in the friendly bracket competition. SIP-tember: A Celebration of the Cocktail and the Taste of Pasadena provide a terrific opportunity for patrons to visit new places, remember old favorites and see the breadth of excellent offerings found in the Pasadena area.
Do your patrons need a ride home? UBER, the mobile dispatched limousine service will give a $20 credit to those who use the service and include the promotional code Siptember in the car request.
Sponsors of SIP-tember: a celebration of the cocktail include Presenting Sponsor the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. Gold Sponsors of SIP-tember and the Taste of Pasadena are The City of Pasadena and Trusted Choice Agents of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. Pasadena Magazine is Media Sponsor.