SARASOTA COUNTY – Tasting bourbon and whiskey goes for a great cause Thursday in downtown Sarasota.


The Aloft hotel hosted the second annual ‘Set The Bar Competition’ sponsored by four roses as spirit lovers sipped 13 local restaurant drink recipes.


Sarasota Manatee Originals partnered with Whiskey Obsession Festival and Men, Whiskey, and Watches to organize the event.


Guests cast a ballot alongside three judges to determine the top three bartenders earning the drink specialists recognition and bragging rights.


Sarasota Manatee Originals president Beth Owen Cipielewski says there is a lot variety in these drinks.


“I just tasted one that was similar to a lemon cello there is a coffee infusion. Believe it or not with bourbon! And it is very fall flavored a little bit of peach accents are in some restaurants and a lot of fall accents are in a lot of the flavors. Pumpkin spice that kind of thing.”


Proceeds go to the Sarasota based Child Protection Center which helps abused children.


This event will take place again next year, and the organizers will host Corks and Forks January 30 at Ringling Museum.