AUSTIN – Invited, the world’s largest owner and operator of private clubs, is proud to announce Channing Fawcett, Director of Food and Beverage at Westlake Country Club, has been named its 2024 Mixologist of the Year. The most-ordered cocktail of all Invited clubs, Fawcett’s Violet Crown, beat four other finalists to earn the honor, which concluded a multi-week competition sponsored by Empress Gin.
Fawcett’s winning cocktail blends liqueurs of Empress 1908 Indigo Gin and Giffard Creme de Violette with a blackberry simple syrup, splash of lime juice and fever tree elderflower tonic to create an elegant drink whose presentation is second only to its floral, berry taste. Violet Crown was one of five finalists, which also included The Collective Seattle’s The Back Nine, Stonebriar Country Club’s Raspberry Bramble, The Metropolitan’s Purple Line Express and Canyon Creek Country Club’s Dark Side of the Moon.
Fawcett will receive a complimentary trip to the 2024 Food and Wine Festival at Casa de Campo, a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic, to represent Westlake Country Club at the event where she can showcase her skills and learn from some of the nation’s top chefs and mixologists. Chefs Shawn McClain and Scott Conant headline this event filled with championship golf, tennis and spa experiences, and a celebration of the culinary arts, featuring unique flavors and exquisite wines.
“The Violet Crown is an absolute work of art, showcasing Channing’s amazing creativity as a mixologist, and we are excited to celebrate her at the Food and Wine Festival this year,” said Sean DiCicco, SVP of Food and Beverage at Invited. “Invited is committed to using the finest spirits and creating a premier experience for our members and guests, and this year’s mixology competition has brought out the best in our clubs and their staff.”
All of the qualifying cocktails featured Elderflower Rose and Indigo iterations of Empress 1908 Gin, a North American spirit micro-distilled in small batch copper-pot stills. With heavy fruit notes, some cocktails including Dark Side of the Moon featured supplemental spirits, while others, such as the Purple Line Express, blended wine with liqueur. These high-quality cocktails are part of Invited’s continued mission to enhance culinary and beverage offerings for its clubs, members and guests.
About Invited (formerly ClubCorp)
Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based Invited has operated with the mission of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. The leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs, city, and stadium clubs in North America, Invited is relentless in its pursuit of providing extraordinary experiences, meaningful connections, shared passions, and memorable moments for its more than 400,000 members. The company’s mission is supported by 20,000 peak-season employees and a portfolio of 200 owned or operated golf and country clubs, city clubs, sports clubs, stadium clubs in 29 states, and seven BigShots Golf locations. Invited creates communities and a lifestyle through its championship golf courses, workspaces, handcrafted cuisine, resort-style pools, tennis and pickleball facilities, golf lounges, fitness centers, and pioneering programming.
Marquee Invited properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California);The Woodlands Country Club (Houston, Texas); and The Metropolitan Club (Chicago, Illinois).
MEDIA CONTACT: Johnathan McGinty, (706) 338-2732, johnathan@trestlecollective.com
