We’ll Be the Judge!

By HPR Staff

It was like a scene from Rocky; we had been training all year for the main event. It took
almost two years to get over the headaches from the 2008 Cocktail Showdown, but we
came with more experience and knowledge. We weren’t rookies any longer. Five judges
assembled from various walks of life to taste what Fargo Moorhead had to offer. Among us, HPR’s own Wine and Alcoholic beverage expert, Nikki Berglund, and Raul Gomez himself. Our comments are given in quotes.

Green Mill Mochatini

Made by: Bar Manager Matt Schumacher

Made with:
Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
Godiva Liqueur
Coffee Liqueur
Bailey’s Irish Cream
Cream
Topped with Chocolate Syrup

Served shaken with ice or blended. We found the blended cocktail to be a
delicious ice cream-tasting treat, and the shaken Mochatini to be a mellower, richer blend.

“This was a great first cocktail, especially in the frozen form and something I would
actually drink. In terms of creativity, it just reminded me of a frozen coffee drink that
any corporate restaurant might have on the menu.”

“Oooh, it would be a perfect guilty pleasure for a ladies evening, or a nice after dinner
drink with its rich, sweet flavors.”

Tailgators Sports Café Viking Tea

Made by: Bartender Lee Christenson

Made with:
Blue Curacao
Blue Raspberry UV Vodka
Cranberry Juice
Lemonade

Bystander’s thoughts: The best endorsement for this drink came from vehement Packers fan Chris Deere who said it’s, “Actually not bad.”

“If you were the one going for ‘purple stuff’ in the Sunny D commercials you’d love
this tea. It’s like the grape Kool-aid of yesteryear for the diehard, sweet tooth Vikings
fan.”

“This drink doesn’t deserve any feedback but I am giving it anyway. Taken straight
off the bar menu, and with such ingredients as blue Curacao, this is just a bad hangover
waiting to happen. Pretty sad, when one judge has to sneak in the bathroom and dump it out
because it’s so undrinkable!”

“Ditto. What they said”

Dempsey’s Mrs. Ron Burgundy

Made by: Bartender Jeff Fonder

Made with:
Stoli Peach
Bacardi Limon
Peach Schnapps
Triple Sec
Lemonade
Cabernet Sauvignon

“The wine floating on top of the drink really freaked me out but once I mixed it in, it
was pretty good. I think I enjoyed this less than most of my fellow tasters.”

“All that was going through in my mind was the Starland Vocal Band’s Afternoon
Delight, and this sangria was tasty, not overly fruity or sweet. The Cabernet intensified the
flavors and also snuggled the forefront peach schnapps in a strictly career relationship,
monogamous sort of way. I love lamp and I love Mrs. Ron Burgundy.”

“I could see me drinking lots of these in the summer.”

Radisson’s Passages’ Spicy Mango

Made by Bartender and the Johnson Family Band member Pete Hoffman

Made with:
Patron Silver
Sweet and Sour Mix
Cointreau
Spicy Mango Mix
Tabasco
Caramelized Sugar Rim with the catalyst Bacardi 151 to set it aflame
Garnished with a dried Thai Chili

This was bar owner Sandy Adams’s favorite martini, and bartender Pete decided to tweak it by serving it in a champagne flute and slightly altering the original martini recipe. Hot Alert: let the bartender know how spicy you’d like it because the Tabasco can really kick up the heat. Our first batch was significantly hotter then the second, so if you and chili aren’t on the best of terms, order it sans Tabasco or with just a touch.

“This was the first creative drink I tried in the contest and I knew it would remain one of my favorites throughout. Some thought it was a little spicy but I absolutely loved the combination of tequila, mango and Tabasco.”

“This is the evil mimosa I would love on a Sunday brunch. It’s a treat for the tropical heat lovers: mango and chili and tequila…Perfecto!!”

“My drink was a bit too hot! Although if this came in a ‘mild version’ for weaker tongues I’d totally get into this drink. It’s definitely a ‘must try.’”

Rooters’ Green Lantern

Made by: Bartender Dirk Thiedeman

Made with:
Brandy
Amaretto
Lime Juice
Pineapple Juice
Liquid Ice

“It’s a fantastic shot when you’re out on the town; it’s a little sweet and sour. Like DC Comics, Green Lantern, it provided the all powerful ring to start the evening.”

“Not memorable—no, really, I don’t remember it at all and it was the first drink of Friday night? Not a good sign.”

“I enjoyed the combination of sweet and tart in this shot.”

Monte’s Caribbean Coffee Martini

Made by: Bar Manager Aaron Hanson

Made with:
Kahlua
Half and Half
Trader Vic’s Macadamia Nut liqueur
Garnished with Coffee Beans

Notes and bystander’s thoughts: macadamia nut is grown in the Caribbean among other places giving this cocktail its dynamic name. “It’s like the party started in my mouth and moved to my pants,” said lighting manager Mr. Miller.

“It’s a simple cocktail, but not surprising, delicious. The Macadamia Nut Liqueur finishes it nicely.”

“The better of the two coffee type drinks, although not the most creative thing I have ever tasted. I enjoyed it and would drink it again.”

Vic’s A Buck 380

Made by: Bartender Molly Howland

Made with:
Champagne
Strawberry Smirnoff
Orange Juice
Pineapple Juice

Vic’s has a loyal customer base, which may be due to the owner. Every day, he comes in at happy hour at the spritely age of 80. The other patrons commonly ask, “How much do I owe you? A buck 3.80?” Which inspired the name of this cocktail. In a joint with pull tabs and pitchers, A Buck 380 was a fun surprise.

“Although this name is still a bit of a mystery to me, this drink was surprisingly good! A twist on the Mimosa, the ingredients did not sound promising to me (Champagne at Vic’s?!) and my expectations were low. I started a conversation and the next thing I knew the whole thing was gone! This was very easy to drink.”

“It’s not every day you drink a champagne cocktail in Moorhead, so all bets were off. I love the initial champagne taste on the front end and pineapple to finish. A shining reason to return.”

WF Maxwell’s Blood Orange Margarita

Made by: Bartender Ramon Sosa

Made with:
Cointreau
1800 Silver
Fresh Lime
Blood Orange Concentrate
Simple Syrup
Garnished with oranges, limes and strawberries soaked in Tequila

With an extensive wine list and creative cocktail options, it’s no surprise this bar was buzzing with guests and excitement. This cocktail seemed to be one of many creative options on the menu. The Saturday we visited, a pomegranate-ginger Martini was one special listed, and there were more adventurous flavor pairings where that came from.

“Dios mio, this is intense. The bold blood orange flavor explodes in your mouth, and the tequila relaxes in the background enjoying the ride. And it is beautiful with the colorful garnish and thoughtful care put into this creative Margarita.”

“By far the prettiest of the drinks and the most creatively garnished. The drink itself was so damn good but the tequila-soaked fruit really sealed the deal for me.”

Three Lyons Patronjito

Made by: Bartender Kent Larsen

Made with:
Patron
Cilantro
Lime
Cane Sugar
7 up

“I have always liked the idea of mojitos but have never really been a big rum fan. I am on the other hand a HUGE Patron fan and a huge cilantro fan. Even if this wasn’t the prettiest of the drinks we had, it more than made up for it in deliciousness.”

“Well, you had me at Cilantro, but this drink was so refreshing that it was dangerous. It’s like tasting that perfect summer day in a glass. Drinkers beware, as delicious as cilantro is, in muddled form it callously sticks to your pearly whites. So if you’re on the pull, check the mirror and floss often.”

Gastropub’s Lazy Dragon Martini

Made by: Bartender Jenni Desrosier

Made with:
Hangar One Vodka
Bacardi Dragon
Peachtree Schnapps
99 Bananas
Orange Juice
Pineapple Juice
Cranberry Juice
Garnished with a cherry and orange twist

In a brewpub, you don’t often see creative, delicious food options, but thankfully this place feeds the most discerning appetites. Wash down your bacon wrapped, cream cheese stuffed jalapeño poppers with a cocktail or one of the multitude of tap beers

“This would make a fire breathing dragon a tipsy burn out. It’s strong and the peach is long lasting.”

“Not memorable and pretty gross. I am not sure who in the group said it, but I agree that adding peach schnapps to your signature cocktail is the kiss of death.”

“I love peach, and I love this drink. I also thought the presentation was as super cute as the drink was delicious.”

Empire’s Monkey Business Shot

Made by: Bar Manager Jeremy Tjon

Made with:
Stoli’s Strawberry Vodka
Midori
Banana Malibu
Pineapple Juice
Dropped in Liquid Ice energy drink

All the monkeys in the plains love this shot; it’s so popular they premix it to avoid impatient monkeys throwing scat.

“I thought this was a great shot and also visually appealing. I also learned for the first time that Liquid Ice was blue.”

“Monkeys surely get down to a little business after a shot or two of this. It’s all swinging from the trees after this flavor explosion, blue sweettart meets tropical sunset.”

The Nestor’s Mr. Sir Minor Shot

Made by: Bartender Rob McCloskey

Made with:
Lemon Drop
Gin
White Grape Smirnoff
99 Bananas
Cranberry Juice
A Lemon Squeeze

This was named after a patron who frequented the Nestor in her bubble gum years. She turned 21 several years after she was a fixture at the bar, so the moral of the story is that underaged drinking doesn’t always create legal issues. Sometimes you’ll get a shot named after you.

“It’s a walk down memory lane for the bubble gum blowers. It tastes like an adult tropical bubble gum for those that want to reminiscence.”

“Not memorable. I might have enjoyed it more while witnessing the ruckus that apparently happened the next day (man arrested in the afternoon for smashing a beer mug over some dude’s head.) Morbid but true.”

The Sidestreet’s Grape Tootsie Pop Shot

Made by: “Wizard O’ Libations” Jacob Johnson

Made with:
Grand Marnier
Grape Puckers
Orange Juice
Dark Crème de Cacao

You may remember Jacob Johnson, winner of the original Cocktail Showdown, as the bartender who created the infamous Bacon Bloody Mary. He’s back to his black magic at Sidestreet, creating an unnatural alcoholic candy likeness. Next time you visit, see what new potions the Wizard is concocting.

“I don’t know whether I really loved this shot but I will say it tasted exactly like a grape tootsie pop.”

“It tastes like a parade, if only these were thrown out for the adults on the sidelines.”

Granite City’s Flying Monkey

Made by: Bartender Jake Mau

Made with:
Peach Schnapps
Strawberry Schnapps
Strawberry Puree
Lemonade

Granite City conducts a competition each year within its 26 Restaurants Nationwide. Bartenders are challenged to come up with a summer signature drink. The originator of this cocktail was a bartender from the Sioux Falls Granite City several years ago.

“Not a bad-tasting corporate-style cocktail. I did like the fact that they have contests in order to inspire their bartenders to come up with new drinks.”

“It’s definitely a drink for all. It’s a delicious Strawberry Lemonade that I imagine mothers and grandmothers sitting in a porch swing sipping.”

Usher’s Hangover Slayer

Made by: Bartender Aaron Duma

Made with:
Smirnoff Vodka
Secret Bloody Mary Mix
Orange Juice
Budweiser
Fresh Lime Squeeze
Sriracha Squeeze
Garnished with a beef stick

“It’s really an alcoholic humanitarian effort,” said bartender Aaron Duma, who created this drink when a chef came to work Sunday morning with an epic hangover. It has all the things you’d like in a writhing post-alcohol-affected state, he thought, and it’s “purely functional, no frills barred.” Bystander Minda Ringdahl exclaimed, “That’s actually pretty good! I think it’s the fizz [of the beer].”

“With a name like this, I figured it had to be interesting. I grimaced at the ingredients, but I sipped and sighed thinking it was an interesting, saucy combination. The carbonation of the beer and Sriracha was key, but I would have liked it Sunday morning…”

“I like the story behind this drink, which really made me enjoy it more than if it didn’t have a story. It could have used a garnish, but Bartender Aaron did put some beef jerky on top which was appreciated. What really makes this drink, as with all of their Bloody Mary-style drinks, is that amazing mix with its ‘secret ingredients.’”

Showdown Winners

Everyone can try, but not everyone can receive the Cocktail Showdown Olive Award. We thank everyone for participating, and these are the 2010 winners:

Overall Winner: The Patronjito at Three Lyons Pub was the choice. We liked this fresh tasting, light and pungent cilantro drink.

Original Winner: The Spicy Mango is a shining beacon of consuming creativity. Sweet, spicy, and they set it afire before your eyes. What more could you desire?!

Best Presentation: The Blood Orange Margarita at WF Maxwells went the extra mile to dazzle our eyeballs and taste buds. It was simply stunning with a rich, blood orange color garnished with a rainbow of fruits: limes, oranges, and strawberries soaked in Tequila await you on the rim of this drink.

Best Flavor: Mrs. Ron Burgundy won for all around flavor. Sangria isn’t only for San Diego any longer.

Best Overall Shot: Monkey Business at the Empire tastes and delivers in so many fruity ways.

The Mentionables

Sleeper Award: This mention goes to that friend on the couch who surprises and impresses at all the right times. Vic’s A Buck 380 wowed us with taste and audacity. Champagne at Vic’s… now we’ve heard of everything! Thanks for keeping us on our toes and putting the sway in our step.
Humanitarian Award: This is for the cocktail that truly “gives back” to the community. Usher’s Hangover Slayer does just that for anyone that had a rough evening. You really put others before you to make that pounding headache a little less dull.
Honorable Mention: You can’t win ‘em all, but props for playing the game. Thank you Sidestreet Grape Tootsie Pop for showing us that any flavor in life can be recreated in alcoholic form. This is truly an accomplishment.

The People’s Choice

Hey, Reader readers! We’ve told you what we think. Now give us your two cents. Visit participating bars and restaurants, try the amazing concoctions, go to hpr1.com and vote. We’ll announce the People’s Choice winner in a couple of weeks.

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