Second annual cocktail competition invites the public to sample, vote and celebrate creativity across Historic Folsom all month long
Historic Folsom will once again become a tasting trail in February as the Gold Rush Bartender Challenge returns for its second annual run, inviting local bartenders to go head to head with original, area-inspired cocktails crafted around a Gold Rush theme.
Running from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, the monthlong challenge turns the Folsom Historic District into a self-guided cocktail experience where residents and visitors are encouraged to sip their way through participating bars and restaurants, discover new signature drinks and help crown this year’s standout bartender creations.
The concept is simple and open to the public. There is no registration fee to participate in the challenge. Guests simply purchase cocktails at participating locations throughout the month. After trying at least six of the Gold Rush-themed cocktails, participants can scan a QR code at any participating venue to cast their votes. Each voter is allowed one vote per category, encouraging thoughtful tasting and friendly debate as the month unfolds.
The competition celebrates both creativity and presentation, with awards for Best Overall, Best Presentation and Most Original cocktail. Cash prizes of $300 for Best Overall and $100 each for Best Presentation and Most Original have been donated by last year’s winner, Powerhouse Pub.
Because Powerhouse and its adjoining Scarlet’s location are hosting this year’s celebration, they will not compete in the 2026 challenge. Powerhouse was the overall winner of the inaugural 2025 Bartender Challenge, and organizers said the venue stepped out of this year’s competition in order to host the winner celebration and support the next round of bartenders taking part in the event.
A winner announcement and celebratory cocktail pours are scheduled for Sunday, March 1, at 4 p.m. at Powerhouse Pub and Scarlet’s, where bartenders from across the district will gather to toast the conclusion of the monthlong event and recognize this year’s winners.
This year’s Gold Rush Bartender Challenge features a wide range of Historic Folsom establishments, including Back Room Speakeasy at Gaslight Co., City Slickers, Crystal Basin Station, Fat Rabbit Public House, Fiore, Folsom Hotel, Plank Craft Kitchen + Bar, Riley’s on Sutter, Samuel Horne’s Tavern, Scott’s Seafood Roundhouse, Sutter Club, Sutter Street Steakhouse and Yager Lodge. Each venue has created its own unique cocktail interpretation inspired by the region’s Gold Rush history and character.
Organizers encourage participants to make a night — or several nights — of the experience, inviting friends to follow the tasting trail through town and explore the diversity of styles, flavors and creativity on display. All participating venues are 21 and over.
The Gold Rush Bartender Challenge is free to take part in and is designed to spotlight the talent behind Historic Folsom’s bar scene while drawing attention to the district’s walkable charm and independent dining culture. As votes are tallied throughout February, the competition is expected to once again spark friendly rivalry, community engagement and plenty of conversation about which cocktail truly struck gold.
For more information, visit one of the participating businesses or visitwww.historicfolsom.org.
Powerhouse, Scarlets icon Joel Warn set the bar in 2025
Last year’s inaugural Historic Folsom Bartender Challenge established the foundation for what has quickly become a signature February event in the district, with longtime Powerhouse Pub and Scarlet’s bartender Joel Warn earning the first overall title. The 2025 competition challenged bartenders across Historic Folsom to create original cocktails inspired by a Johnny Cash theme, drawing steady participation from both locals and visitors throughout the month.
Warn’s winning cocktail, the “Man in Blackberry,” combined Dereringer Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with cherry bitters and a splash of Mike’s Hot Honey, a balance that resonated with voters as both creative and approachable. Throughout February, patrons sampled specialty cocktails across multiple venues in the Historic District and cast votes for their favorites, ultimately elevating Warn’s entry above a competitive field of craft-driven submissions.
Beyond the winning drink itself, Warn’s recognition reflected decades of experience behind the bar and a consistent commitment to craftsmanship. After helping shape the bar program at Powerhouse Pub, Warn took on a leading role at Scarlet’s beginning in 2005, where he focused on developing cocktails rooted in fresh ingredients, seasonal elements and refined technique. His work helped define a standard for the inaugural challenge and demonstrated the depth of talent within Historic Folsom’s bartending community.
That inaugural victory helped solidify the Bartender Challenge as more than a novelty event, setting expectations for creativity, execution and community participation. As the Gold Rush–themed competition returns this February, Warn’s 2025 win remains a benchmark for the bartenders competing this year and a reminder of how quickly the event has become part of Historic Folsom’s annual calendar.
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