We just came back from spending a few days exploring some of Park City's greatest food and drink locations, and I was absolutely blown away by how this destination has managed to avoid what too many other resort areas suffer from - overpriced, fancy-looking culinary scenes that often seem to fall short of expectations. Instead, here I was constantly impressed with quality, creativity, and personality at all of the locations that Sujeet from GuysGab.com and I explored as we ate and drank our way through Park City and Deer Valley in particular!
I wish all of you guys could have had a chance to attend this event and join us on our tasting tour through the area, but for now, I'm excited to help showcase the winning mixologist and cocktail from the event we attended last week.
To be completely honest, at the high elevation - approximately 8,100 feet above sea level, cocktails we tried hit a little differently, and so you gotta really pay attention when going out drinking in this town, but that's part of the fun of events like this!
A Night of Serious Cocktail Competition
The Park City Area Restaurant Association's Mountain Mixer cocktail contest brought together ten of the area's most talented mixologists for what turned out to be an incredible display of creativity and skill. The live finale featured three distinguished judges - Regional Sales Director of La Colombe Ben Usen, Michelin-Starred Chef Giancarlo Morelli, and James Beard Award-winning cocktail consultant Jim Meehan - alongside an enthusiastic crowd of locals and visitors.
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AJ Anderson from Handle took home the top prize with his innovative "Melt" cocktail, beating out strong competition from Katelyn Fraser of Butcher's Chop House & Bar (second place with the "Nebbia") and Charles Vincen Franco from Grub Steak Park City (third place with the "Ube Halo"). I was particularly impressed by the wide spectrum of creative cocktail concepts, including one mixologist who created a pineapple ice cube, and I was especially happy that Katelyn Fraser made it to the podium because I'm particularly excited to try her Nebbia - a riff on a London Fog - next time I'm in town.
The Winning "Melt" Cocktail
Anderson's winning cocktail brilliantly captures Park City's dual personality - winter wonderland meets summer mountain escape. The Melt starts as an old fashioned before transforming into a tropical, fruity tiki-style drink as a specially prepared ice cube melts, revealing a hidden cherry at the center.
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The Recipe
- 1.5 oz High West Double Rye
- 0.5 oz Pussers British Navy Rum
- 0.5 oz Domaine de Canton Ginger
- 0.25 oz Demerara Sugar Syrup
- 2 Dash Angostura Bitters
- 2 Dash Burnt Honey Hops Bitters by Bitters Lab
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir for 20 seconds (intentionally not full dilution). Strain over a special ice cube made from equal parts coconut water, pineapple juice, and filtered water with a cherry on a pick frozen inside. Rim one-third of a double rocks glass with cinnamon, flame an orange coin over the cocktail, and drop it on the ice cube. As the ice melts, the drink continues to evolve in flavor.
A Night of Flair, Flavor & Storytelling
On August 21, Deer Valley's Silver Lake Lodge transformed into a theatrical stage - twin portable bars flanked DJ Dolph's setup, floor-to-ceiling windows provided a stunning mountain backdrop, and Tom Kelly emceed the evening while cameras rolled for what became a TV-worthy show in the heart of the mountains.
Each finalist faced the challenge of mixing, explaining, and performing their cocktail with personality and narrative while battling visible nerves. Many admitted to feeling anxious, with shaking hands and voices captured by their clip-on mics. Judges evaluated based on creativity and originality, flavor balance and presentation, garnish execution, and stage presence and flair. Meanwhile, the audience voted on personality and technique, with judges' and audience scores combined to crown the winner.
The Complete Finalist Lineup: Here's the full roster of ten finalists who brought unique concepts to the competition - perfect for guys planning a Park City guys trip to turn into an epic bar crawl:
- Alpine Sunset Frosé - Sara Sergent (Alpine Social Aid & Pleasure Club)
- Gin Rummy - Robert Coman (Pine Cone Ridge)
- Lavender Summit - Victor Wilson (Pine Cone Ridge)
- Melt - AJ Anderson (Handle)
- Nebbia - Katelyn Fraser (Butcher's Chop House & Bar)
- R&R Sour - Megs Miller (The Brass Tag - Deer Valley)
- Smokey & The Bourbon - Jason Yelton (Butcher's Chop House & Bar)
- The Cryptid's Call - Liam Bridgham (High West Saloon)
- Ube Halo - Charles Vincent Franco (Grub Steak Park City)
- Wildflower 75 - Elena Filote (Cena Ristorante)
Winner and Honorable Mentions: Anderson's "Melt" captivated both judges and audience with its innovative ice cube concept and flavor transformation. Fraser's second-place "Nebbia" offered nostalgic London Fog vibes with a sophisticated twist, while Franco's third-place "Ube Halo" paid homage to Filipino dessert culture with its rich, purple-hued presentation.
Building Community Through Culinary Excellence
During our stay at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley, events like Mountain Mixer proved that Park City's restaurant scene extends far beyond tourist guidebook recommendations. While Deer Valley and Park City as a whole are best known for being cold-weather ski resorts, events like this go a long way towards showcasing the talent that continues to drive this area forward as one of the best destinations for guys who love great food, drinks, and outdoor adventure.
This competition showcased the genuine talent working in local establishments, creating drinks that rival those found in major metropolitan areas. Whether you're planning a Park City guys trip or just want to explore Utah's mountain dining scene with some inspiration from Visit Park City, the level of creativity, technical skill, and passion displayed by all ten finalists demonstrates why this mountain town has become such a respected culinary destination that manages to maintain authenticity while serving world-class food and drinks year-round. Anderson walked away with $1,000, a sponsor gift basket, and well-deserved bragging rights, but the real winner was Park City's dining scene as a whole - and anyone planning Utah guys trips now has the perfect bar crawl mapped out.
photos courtesy of the Park City Area Restaurant Association
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