Tracker Pixel for Entry

​The 6th Annual HPR Cocktail Showdown Winners

Cocktail Showdown | December 10th, 2014

After weeks of the grueling task of sampling the finest drinks and shots from the best bartenders at bars and restaurants of all types throughout Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo, the 6th Annual HPR Cocktail Showdown has come to an end. While the judges had varying opinions and tastes on the wide variety of contestants, the winners compiled the highest scores in categories of presentation, flavor and creativity.

All eight of the bartenders listed, including the runners up, have an automatic spot to compete in the Bartender’s Battle portion of the HPR Cocktail showdown for ultimate supremacy. The competition will take place at The Venue on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Without further ado, it’s time to let you all know who we thought was the cream of the crop from this year’s field.

Andrea Anderson

Fargo, 34
10 years of being a bartender, a friend, and a much needed psychologist for some of the finest people the Midwest has to offer … I think David Sedaris put it best: "... in terms of emotional comfort, it's a belief that no amount of physical contact can match the healing powers of a well made cocktail ..."

Portrait by J Earl Miller / Drink photos by Raul Gomez

BEST OVERALL: "The Scarecrow Boat" by Andrea Anderson at Montes Downtown

Andrea Anderson had the whole package with this one, scoring high in each of the categories with each of the judges -- a difficult achievement with so many different tastes and preferences. She poached three different types of pears herself, and, with the fresh fruity ingredients and tasty hard liquor mix, the concoction was strong but wouldn’t make you wince while drinking it. Plus, with Anderson’s engaging and friendly persona behind the concoction, it’s hard not to enjoy your time spent at the bar. She wanted something really warm and “harvest-y” for the fall and winter with the Scarecrow Boat (name inspired by the TV show “Parks and Rec”), and she hit the ball out of the park. The Scarecrow Boat includes St. Germain, Grey Goose Pear, Locations E2 Wine, lemon, a splash of 7-Up and is layered on the bottom of the glass with poached pears and fresh tangerines.

Runner up: “ND Oil Tanker” by Scott Motschenbacher at Beefsteak Club


Davin Henrik

Fargo, 32
After working at Dempsey’s, I started working at the Radisson in May of 2013. I developed a love of crafting cocktails in high volume service. Customers from all over the world have shaped my bartending skills. Bartending is playing with the palate as much as conversation with the costumers.

Portrait by J Earl Miller / Drink photos by Raul Gomez

BEST SHOT: "PB Hold The J" by Davin Henrik at Level Two (Radisson)

A dessert drink was Davin Henrik’s goal for the PB Hold the J, and if dessert is your game, this is your shot. It’s not only fun to watch being made, but it puts some fun in your mouth. The Radisson is the perfect place for a bartender to hone his skills, perfecting a drink without rushing, but getting the mix right. You can sit back and chat with the bartender without 10 other people screaming at him or her for something. Davin used Hennessy, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Frangelico liqueur and whipped cream for this specialty, which he rimmed with maple syrup, crushed cashews and peanut powder. It’s a tasty peanut butter treat with a bit of a punch.

Runner up: "Warlord" from by Andrea Anderson at Montes


Scott Motschenbacher

Moorhead, 32
My bartending experience started in a kitchen 14 years ago, when I realized the potential of marrying different ingredients. Shortly thereafter I took a job bartending with Duffy’s, where I discovered major differences in alcohol. I am now trying to perfect my imperfections behind a cutting board and a bar with Beefsteak.

Portrait by J Earl Miller / Drink photos by Raul Gomez

BEST PRESENTATION: “North Dakota Oil Tanker” by Scott Motschenbacher at Beefsteak Club

Scott Motschenbacher named this drink the ND Oil Tanker as a nod to the flammability of North Dakota oil -- and the fact that all of the booze he put in this drink was flambéed with flames nearly reaching the ceiling. So it’s safe to say this drink is just as flammable. Not only that, but explosive, as it creates an explosion in your mouth. Watching Scott put this all together was quite the show, which resulted in the rare perfect score for presentation. If you bump into Scott at the Beefsteak, have him cook up one of these for you, and you will get a definite jumpstart to your evening in more ways than one. The North Dakota Oil Tanker includes coffee, Appleton Reserve spiced rum, Grand Marnier liqueur, butter, brown sugar, spices, candied orange peels and studded with cloves.

Runner up: "Apple Flip" by Michael Howey Howey at Mezzaluna


Jacob Johnson

Fargo, 35
Mos Eisley Cantina on the planet Tatooine. Brief stint at a pub where nearly everybody knew my name. Charles Bukowski ... Also, post script, I invented ginger ale and bacon.

Portrait by J Earl Miller / Drink photos by Raul Gomez

BEST CREATIVITY: "Winter Mule” by Jacob Johnson at The Boiler Room

This holiday take on the traditional Moscow Mule was a unique and tasty idea cooked up by veteran bartender Jacob Johnson. Its mix of liquor certainly, and enjoyably, night capped a full evening of cocktail showdowns for the HPR crew and sent us merrily on our way. Even the biggest Scrooge might be forced a smirk after this bad boy. This is one holiday treat you might not get sick of, and it definitely stood out from the rest of the Christmas/holiday related entries in this year’s field. The Winter Mule is served in a stylish copper cup and is made with freshly squeezed lime juice, house simple syrup, Grey Goose Cherry Noir, Gosling’s Ginger Beer, orange juice and garnished with cinnamon sticks, Luxardo cherries and a dab of cinnamon.

Runner up: “Rye Tai” by Kyle Berglund at Rustica


Andrew Hardy

Fargo, 27
I have been in the industry for about 10 years. I've been bartending for five now. I've only worked in a select few bars, but made TONS of friends doing what I love! Cheers!!

BEST FLAVOR: "Ulfberht" by Andrew Hardy at Usher’s House

All of the judges were singing praises for the tastiness of Andrew Hardy’s handiwork with the Ulfberht. He sought to create something awesome, mythical and epic, and named after old German swords. He flat out nailed it. This mix is something you will want to try again and again, as it tastes good from the top of the glass all the way to the bottom -- no boozy or sour afterfinish. The Ulfberht includes Bulleit Rye bourbon, Grand Marnier liqueur, clove simple syrup, muddled huckleberries and oranges, with a splash of lime juice and soda.

Runner up: “Shadow Roll” by Charles Smith at Maxwells

RECENTLY IN

Cocktail Showdown

Tracker Pixel for Entry TheatrebSMS Tracker Pixel for Entry TheatreBSMS Tracker Pixel for Entry WurstDowntown Tracker Pixel for Entry Tracker Pixel for Entry TheatreBSMS Tracker Pixel for Entry MidwestRoadTripAdventures

Recently in:

Proposed Bills Could Take Books off Library ShelvesBy Laura Simmonslaurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu The passing of ND House Bill 1205 and ND Senate Bill 2360, which would prevent sexually explicit books from being in public…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comHPR chats with a local legendThe following interview was done in February of 2016, just a few months after Mr. Josef Olivieri's 90th birthday. We're sorry to hear of his passing at the age of 97 on…

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30pmZandbroz Variety, FargoAuthor of “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land” Taylor Broby will discuss the important role libraries play in their communities as sanctuaries of acceptance. He will…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.comOur Opinion: Who on Earth would ever want to move to North Dakota?Let’s talk about the left hand and the right hand. Or, more correctly, let’s focus on the right hand, being as there is no left in ND…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comTwo ForumWhite Nationalist Trumplican Nincoms Have Pooped All Over LibrariansSo it has come to pass that Scott Hennen and Ross Nelson have assaulted librarians in the state, accusing them of…

Well shiver me timbers. After weeks of sampling some of the finest drinks in F-M from more bars than we could shake a belaying pin at, the results of High Plains Reader’s 6th Annual Cocktail Showdown are in! For nine weeks,…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.comWhen thinking of popular sandwiches associated with the Upper Midwest, the sloppy joe immediately comes to mind. But let’s not forget the sandwich with a spicy side – the taco grinder. It’s a…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comphoto by Andy Wilcox Many of Fargo-Moorhead’s talented bands and musicians have been able to gain fans around the country. Some of this, of course, is due to social media making it…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comKevin Armento’s play “Killers” inspired both Stefanie Abel Horowitz’s 2019 short film “Sometimes, I Think About Dying” and Rachel Lambert’s 2023 feature “Sometimes I Think About…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIf you’ve ever driven down the Enchanted Highway, the 32-mile ribbon of road connecting Regent to Gladstone in western North Dakota, home to the world’s largest salvaged metal sculptures,…

By Jessica M. Hawkesjmhawkes84@gmail.comIt wasn’t long after the founding of the railroad and river town of New Rockford that entertainment venues started to put down their own roots. Its population bolstered by booms of nearby…

By Jan Syverson  Jan.r.Syverson@gmail.comFor the past 30 years live, stand-up comedy has had a place in the Fargo Moorhead area, Starting with…

By Kris Gruberperriex1@gmail.comSpring is here (mostly), and our area is buzzing with people eager to get back out and about -- many newly vaccinated and feeling a bit safer. Partnering with Jade Events, Fargo Brewing is just…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

JANUARY 19, 1967– MARCH 8, 2023 Brittney Leigh Goodman, 56, of Fargo, N.D., passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 8, 2023. Brittney was born January 19, 1967, to Ruth Wilson Pollock and Donald Ray Goodman, in Hardinsburg,…

By Ken and Alice Christiansonsubmit@hpr1.com HB 1332 is currently before the North Dakota legislature. The bill proposes to permit social workers to use a discredited treatment method to convert the sexual orientation of gay and…