I attended the WLOCP. It is terrific. RRS gets the edge for me, but it's not like a booby prize to go to the WLOCP.
Btw: always use 'cocktail'. A high ball is a glass for some cocktails. I refer to mixers like club, tonic or 7 up but they are part of something else.
I believe the origin of a cocktail assumes a drink w/o ice or mixers.