By Kathryn Reed

With a full moon just days away and a chill in the air signaling the change of seasons, shooting the “Winter Skyy” seemed like the appropriate thing to do Thursday night.

Instead of sipping the cocktail, guests were told to knock it back in one gulp – like a shooter. That’s how Christina, a waitress at Blue Water Bistro, was instructing people to drink the restaurant’s libation.

This mix of vodka, Grand Marnier, cream, vanilla, nutmeg and organic white chocolate shavings – plus a few other ingredients – was the winning cocktail of the night.

Blue Water Bistro's Winter Skyy won the Sept. 8 cocktail contest. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The sold-out fundraiser at Riva Grill is the kick-off fundraiser for Barton Foundation’s Festival of Tree and Lights. That event is all about raising money for the community clinic while providing (primarily) locals with a weekend worth of holiday fun the first weekend in December.

The Sept. 8 cocktail event pitted eight restaurants and their bartenders against one another to come up with either a new drink just for the evening or bring a signature sensation.

Winter Skyy is a drink Blue Water has on its menu. At the lakefront restaurant it is served to sip, but with such small portions doled out Thursday night the best way to get the mix of flavors was to down it in one swig.

Coming in second was Naked Fish’s “Naked Nectar”, while last year’s winner – Edgewood — came in third with “Over the Edge-wood”.

Other competitors included Fresh Ketch, Lakeside, Riva Grill, Capisce?, and Chart House.

Attendees enjoy a Tahoe sunset from Riva Grill's deck.

Organizer Laurie Brazil said with the 150 tickets selling out, a larger venue may need to be found next year. This was the second year for the cocktail fundraiser.

Judges Chris Larson, from left, Carol Chaplin and Howie Nave confer about cocktails.

Judging the drinks were weather dude Chris Larson of Channel 8 in Reno, LTVA head honcho Carol Chaplin and KRLT radio guy-Improv comic Howie Nave.

Before the judging, Larson told Lake Tahoe News, “I like beer.”

Chaplin said, “I drink martinis and tequila so the vodka is absolutely the right ingredient for me.”

Nave, the only judge invited back from last year, seemed to be enjoying everything put in front of him.