Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Cocktail Showdown: Week 2

Cocktail Showdown | February 6th, 2019

The Karlsilege

For our second week of the Cocktail Showdown, it was an abbreviated one due to the bitter cold weather closing down several of the establishments throughout downtown, including the ones we were set to visit. Thankfully, Andrew Hardy was excited enough about his competition entry to come in on a night off and treat us to a makeup Monday at the Sidestreet Grille and Pub, on 4th and 4th in downtown Fargo.

The Sidestreet is one of those hangouts that seems to have it all. One of the most extensive tap lists of local, regional, and national craft beers, a solid selection of whiskeys, TVs everywhere you look, a charitable gaming area that even includes off-track betting, pool tables, and dart boards. They also have a reason for you to stop on by, no matter what time of day or night. Whether it’s their weekday and weekend specials, daily happy hours, all-star open mic/jam nights every other Tuesday, or an eclectic mix of live music every weekend, there seems to always be something going on at the Sidestreet. Perhaps the one thing they aren’t typically known for is creative cocktails with an attention to detail but every time I see Andrew behind the bar I know that should I choose to be “that guy” and order up something fun, flavorful, and a little fancy, he can get it done.

The drink: The Heilung
The creator: Andrew Hardy

While Andrew got his presentation area all set up and I waited for Raul and Sabrina to join me, I was informed that the word “heilung” is not only a word with old Germanic roots that roughly translates to “healing,” but it is also the name of a pretty wild performance art/musical group from Denmark that is known for blending traditional tribal drumming, throat singing, banging of bones and swords, and a gorgeous harmonic blend from their two vocalists. The costumes bring it all over the top and their live performances really are stunning events that seem to be part of a broader Neo-Nordic musical and art movement. Grab yer smartypants phone and check em out on youtube because my description isn’t going to come close to doing it justice.

The drink, however, is something I feel I can give an adequate review of. Andrew started this one days before we sat down, by fermenting blueberries with champagne yeast and some brown sugar to start it, then cooked off the resulting alcohol to leave behind a somewhat vinegary compote/jelly/shrub type extract.

The build that we witnessed began with about half of a lime muddled in a cocktail shaker. To that, Andrew added Novo Fogo silver cachaça, green chartreuse, Canadian Club 100% rye, the blueberry extraction, and some ice. He then balanced an empty rocks glass on top of that shaker and another empty shaker and then lit some dried rosemary under the rocks glass to fill it with smoke before he brought the rocks glass and shaker together for just a couple quick shakes. The drink was presented to us in a rocks glass with a simple pick as a stir stick and, thankfully, no little plastic straw.

This creation used classic ingredients from around the world in a new way that had a traditional feel without being directly inspired by a classic cocktail. The blueberries, brown sugar, chartreuse, cachaça, rye, and rosemary all brought a bit of earth in their own way but nothing was out of balance or overpowering. Andrew has become known throughout his years of participating in the Cocktail Showdown as someone who can almost always be counted on to bring the smoke and he really has become quite skilled at using it to enhance a drink without overpowering it.

The shot: The Karlsilege
The creator: Andrew Hardy

The Heilung

Andrew not only named this drink after a co-worker, Karl but took inspiration from Karl’s Asian heritage when selecting the ingredients. He began with Ketel One Peach and Orange Blossom which he poured into a shaker with some lemon juice, orange juice and a touch of sour mix. This was shaken with ice before strained into large shot glasses that were rimmed with Thai chili powder.

The heat from the Thai chili came first, with enough of a blast of garlic that it surprised me at first but then the heat settled onto a nice spot on the tip of my tongue and lips. The peach and orange blossom did come through the fresh juices and sour mix and gave it a bit of an Asian flavor finish to compliment the Thai chili kick.

RECENTLY IN

Cocktail Showdown

Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicoles Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicoles2 Tracker Pixel for Entry Hjemkomst Tracker Pixel for Entry Seven Tracker Pixel for Entry EmpireNEW Tracker Pixel for Entry Seven

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakotans will take part in a nationwide civil rights rally on Thursday, July 17. Protests, marches, rallies and acts of service are scheduled in Bismarck, Bottineau, Devils Lake,…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

July 18-19, 25-26 and August 2-3North Dakota Horse Park, 5180 19th Ave. N., FargoLadies and gentlemen, prepare to place your bets — racing season is upon us! Not just horses will be racing this year; word on the street suggests…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhy doesn’t the world require politicians to leave office at 60?Most of the leaders of countries, whether gods, fascists, democrats or socialists, are not doing very well these days. David Van…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comPhoto by Sabrina Hornung Wing, North Dakota is a town of 132 located about an hour northwest of Bismarck on Highway 36. There’s a shiny new Cenex on the intersection of the highway and the high…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…