Taste DRINK
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
SHOW AND TASTE
Cocktails offering a little something extra with every satisfying sip
Ever heard the old adage that we eat with our eyes first? Clearly, these cocktail hotspots are following the saying, with each venue offering drinks that provide a show well before the first sip.
The Empress Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort A playful twist on the classic violet aviation gin cocktail, The Empress starts with St. George Dry Rye Gin, elderflower liqueur and touch of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. It is finished with a float of bright purple Empress 1908 Gin, which, due to the butterfly pea powder in the recipe, turns the cocktail from clear to purple as the its sinks to the bottom of the glass. $16. www.wekopacasinoresort.com. et tu, brute? Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen While named for the famous last words of Julius Caesar, this cocktail is the perfect first sip to start a night out with friends or a significant other. Equal parts bitter and sweet, it is made with SanTan Sacred Stave Single Malt Whiskey, sweet vermouth, Bruto Americano, and mole bitters. It is served in a glass container that has been infused with smoke that is released tableside. $17. www. andazscottsdale.com. The Third Monk The Americano This groovy green machine, which is served on a blacklight coaster to give it a neon glow-in-the-dark effect in the dimly lit restaurant, starts with mesquite honey with amaretto. It then gets an herbal yet sweet flavor infusion thanks to Yellow Chartreuse and is shaken with an egg white before being strained into a rocks glass. $18. www.theamericanorestaurant.com. Turn on the Heater Platform 18 at Century Grand A sip, show and a snack? Yes, please! This blend of aged rum and crispy, herbaceous mezcal, amaro, guava and burnt sugar is
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extra special thanks to the guava thumbprint cookie on top. Fun fact: The drink was made in partnership with James Beard-nominated local chef Country Velador of Super Chunk Sweets & Treats. $16. www.centurygrandphx.com. Guava Coconut Diego Pops While there is no sea in sight, this cocktail is an island-inspired sight to see thanks to its presentation in an actual baby coconut, complete with an umbrella garnish. The combination of flavors – Ciroc Coconut Vodka, coconut water, guava, and housemade sweet and sour – further transports guests to some beach, somewhere. $15. www.diegopops.com. Snozberry Sour The Hot Chick A nod to the famous line in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory – “The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!” – as well as Wonka’s candy land-like factory and the kids in the story themselves, this bourbon, pomegranate and orgeat cocktail has its own version of snozzberries: Sour Patch Kids. Thanks to a garnishing trick, they even appear to be dancing along the sugar-coated rim. $12. www. thehotchickaz.com. Utopia 36 Below Reminiscent of sitting by a campfire, this cocktail arrives at the table in an oak-smoked dome. After the dome is removed, a marshmallow is toasted tableside, engaging all of the senses. The actual drink features barrel-aged bourbon and cinnamon bitters. Pro tip: Alternate between a bite of the marshmallow and a sip of the drink for the complete flavor experience. $19. www.36belowaz.com.
