Competitors had submitted their recipes beforehand and we tested and chose two of the best to be served on the night of the reception. Attendees were asked to vote, along with our judges, Charleston's most vivacious booze gals, the Cocktail Bandits.

Here are the recipes created by our two finalists, pictured above: Natalie Jacob of Arsenic Lace in New York, NY and Elliott Clark of Apartment Bartender in Phoenix, AZ, who also won the editors' choice award for Best Drinks Blog. Clark opted for a pomegranate-and-lemon refresher, the Chicago Fall, that evoked memories of growing up in the Windy City but it was Jacob's smoky buck variation—the Smoke in the Orchard, splitting a base of tequila and mezcal—that won the hearts of the attendees and judges.

Jacob took home a swanky cocktail shaker, glass, and gear set from Cocktail Kingdom, as well as booze from Roca Patron tequila. Here are both of their recipes for your drinking pleasure.