AJ Anderson of Handle holds up his $1,000 prize check after winning the Park City Area Restaurant Association’s Mountain Mixer cocktail contest on Aug. 21, 2025. Anderson’s “Melt” cocktail took first place, with Katelyn Fraser of Butcher’s Chop House & Bar and Charles Vincen Franco of Grub Steak Park City finishing second and third. Photo: Park City Area Restaurant Association

PARK CITY, Utah — AJ Anderson of Handle claimed the top prize at the Park City Area Restaurant Association’s Mountain Mixer Park City cocktail contest Thursday night, winning with his creation, the Melt.

The Melt cocktail, created by AJ Anderson of Handle, won first place at the Park City Area Restaurant Association’s Mountain Mixer contest. The drink blends old fashioned and tiki-style flavors, transforming as a pineapple-coconut ice cube melts. Photo: Park City Area Restaurant Association

Katelyn Fraser of Butcher’s Chop House & Bar placed second with the Nebbia cocktail, and Charles Vincen Franco of Grub Steak Park City earned third with the Ube Halo cocktail.

“Park City’s talented mixologists brought their personality, creativity, and immense talent to the stage,” said PCARA Executive Director Ginger Wicks. “Congratulations to AJ Anderson for captivating the crowd and our judges at Mountain Mixer Park City’s reimagined live finale, and a huge thank you to the community for their enthusiastic support at every stage of the competition.”

Judges Ben Usen, Giancarlo Morelli, and Jim Meehan evaluate cocktails during the Park City Area Restaurant Association’s Mountain Mixer contest, where 10 finalists competed for the title. Photo: Park City Area Restaurant Association

Ten finalists competed in front of a live audience and a panel of judges that included Ben Usen, regional sales director of La Colombe and founder of Installation Coffee; Michelin-starred chef Giancarlo Morelli; and James Beard Award-winning author and cocktail consultant Jim Meehan. Judges’ votes were combined with audience scores to determine the winners.

Anderson’s Melt cocktail was designed to capture what he described as Park City’s dual personality: a winter wonderland and a summer mountain escape. The drink begins like an old fashioned and gradually transforms into a tropical tiki-style cocktail as a flavored ice cube melts.

For his win, Anderson received a $1,000 cash prize, a sponsor gift basket, and the title of Mountain Mixer Park City champion.

The PCARA represents more than 70 restaurants in the Park City area and organizes annual events including Savor the Summit, Park City Dine About and the Mountain Mixer cocktail contest.