The Periwinkle Foundation, a Houston organization providing camps and art programs for pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, is hosting an Iron Bartender competition to help raise funds for the nonprofit, according to an Aug. 13 news release.

The details

According to the news release, from June 5 through July 8, 16 bartenders from restaurants and bars across Houston presented a signature "Periwinkle Cocktail," and $1 from each cocktail was donated to the Periwinkle Foundation.

After a panel of judges scored the cocktails, six bartenders will compete in the competition's finals Sept. 25 at Lyric Market downtown. The title of Iron Bartender will be awarded that evening, and guests will be able to cast their votes for the People's Choice Award.

The Iron Bartender finalists include:

• Anvil Bar & Refuge: Victor Navarro
• Botonica: Stephanie Di Muria
• Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge: Drew Jerdan
• Cuchara: Leonel Galvan
• Johnny’s Gold Brick: Christian Guadiana
• Reserve 101: Marc Estil

According to the Iron Bartender website, Drew Jerden at Bad News Bar won last year, while Lynzie Holland at Johnny's Gold Brick was the first runner-up and won the People's Choice award. Humberto Garay at Cuchara won the Bar Chef Award and the Most Creative Cocktail award.The competition will be selling tickets with varying prices, including:

• Cocktail Dinner Underwriter, $3,500: includes a cocktail reception and a reserved table for 10 guests with a multicourse seated dinner prepared by guest chefs. The VIP dinner will be served with paired cocktails presented by the five Iron Bartender finalists.
• Cocktail Dinner Tickets, $350: includes a cocktail reception and a reserved seat for one guest with a multicourse seated dinner prepared by guest chefs. The VIP dinner will be served with paired cocktails presented by the six Iron Bartender finalists.
• Tasting Tickets, $75: includes tastings of select Iron Bartender cocktails, spirits, beer and passed bites