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S A N TA C R U Z S E N T I N E L . C O M 12 | 2021 READERS CHOICE AWARDS | FEBRUARY 17, 2022 Thank you Santa Cruz for voting us #1 Best on The Water Rentals! Stand-Up Paddle • Kayaks • Boogie & Skim Boards • Wetsuits Sales – Lessons – Rentals "Achieve Your Moment of Zen" 831-464-7467 - supshack.com ! ! Y k n a h T 5 0 5 6 - 0 4 8 ) 1 3 8 ( I H & A C n i d e s n e c i L 0 2 0 8 8 4 1 : D I S L M N , s e r y u q S e k o o r B r o f p U - r e n n u R t s r i F e m g n i t o v r o f u o y k n a h T . t r o p p u s r u o y e v a h o t d e l l i r h t m a I . 1 2 0 2 l a n o i s s e f o r P e g a g t r o M e s r e v e R t s e B . e r u s o l c s i d / m o c . p u o r g s r o s i v d a n a c i r e m a . w w w : t i s i v e s a e l p , e r u s o l c s i d l a g e l l l u f r o F . I H d n a ) ) 4 4 1 1 3 1 4 ( t c A g n i d n e L e g a g t r o M l a i t n e d i s e R a i n r o f i l a C e h t r e d n u n o i t a v o n n I d n a n o i t c e t o r P l a i c n a n i F f o t n e m t r a p e D e h t y b d e s n e c i L d n a ) 4 2 3 F 3 0 6 ( e s n e c i l w a L s r e d n e L e c n a n i F a i n r o f i l a C a o t t n a u s r u p d e g n a r r a r o e d a m s n a o L A C ( A C n i s s e n i s u b s t c u d n o c G A A . 2 1 6 2 9 A C , e n i v r I , 0 0 3 e t i u S , . e v A n a m r a K n o V 0 0 2 8 1 t a d e r e t r a u q d a e h s i ) G A A ( p u o r G s r o s i v d A n a c i r e m A . ) g r o . s s e c c a r e m u s n o c s l m n . w w w ( 2 9 3 9 # S L M N Martin also cites Makai's authenticity. In addition, it's "… subtle, romantic, and graceful, with great food and superb ser- vice. We do the best we can every day for Santa Cruz and its visitors. Every 'tomor- row' is a new day, and a new experience for another guest, and a challenge for each of us at Makai, to make tomorrow as good as yesterday, or better." Venus Spirits Sean Venus is thrilled that so many people voted for Venus Spirits (venuss- pirits.com, IG @venusspirits and @ venusspiritskitchen) in the Craft Cocktail Establishment category. "Being a distillery first, we start off with the best spirits and crafting cocktails is a natural progression," he says. "We also have a great team here at Venus; our cocktails are complemented by our food in the restaurant, drawing a lot of people to our location. Visitors can also enjoy cocktails, small bites, and educational tastings in our tasting room." Venus Spirits' top-selling drinks are Gun Smoke, Like a Boss, Beach Don't Kill My Vibe and the frozen Paloma Libre. "Some of the ingredients—Wayward Whiskey, Venus Spirits, and El Ladrón— are spirits we produce right here on site," says Sean. Gun Smoke contains Wayward single malt whiskey, walnut liqueur, Averna, chocolate and angostura bitters, Wayward peated whiskey spritz, and charred cinnamon. Like A Boss features El Ladrón blanco agave spirit, poblano verde, chareau aloe, lime, and smoked sea salt. Beach Don't Kill My Vibe has Venus gin no. 01, strawberry, lemon, and basil, and Frozen Paloma Libre features El Ladrón blanco agave spirit, pample- mousse liqueur, Aperol, Riesling, lime, and grapefruit. The drink menus change quarterly. "Some cocktails will remain on the menu, like the house favorites I men- tioned, and some get swapped out for more seasonally appropriate drinks," says Sean. For example, one cocktail added to the menu in November was the Cherry Bomb with El Ladrón Rum, apple brandy, black cherry, lime, cardamaro, bitters, cinnamon, and spice. This will probably be available until springtime. Venus also runs holiday specials like the Oaxacan Winter featured during New Year's weekend. Venus previously won Best Craft Cock- tail, in the Readers' Choice 2020 poll. Their spirits and canned cocktails have also won several awards in various spirit competitions over the years. "We're glad people are still enjoying their cocktails in the tasting room and in Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen," says Sean, who opened the restaurant in 2020. "It has definitely been challenging opening a restaurant during a pandemic, but every- thing aside it has been a great few years here at Venus Spirits. Big thank you to our restaurant and tasting room guests, and to everyone out there purchasing our spirits, both locally and throughout California." continued from 11

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