Taste DRINK
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
GO AHEAD, GET BITTER(S) Valentine’s Day drinks with a bit of bite
PHOTO BY J. MARTIN HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Forget sweets for your sweet! Whether you’re single, coupled up or something in between, it’s the perfect time to get a little bitter, or, at least, drink that way. Here are 10 cocktails with bitters, the botanically infused liqueur that packs a punch.
Creatures Comfort OBON Sushi + Bar + Ramen This handcrafted cocktail starts with bitters made from serrano peppers, cacao, black lime and herbal liqueur. It is combined with a spirit-forward blend of blanco tequila, Cocchi Americano, pineapple matcha syrup, fresh lemon and yuzu juice. $12. www.obonsushi.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AWE COLLECTIVE
Cowboy Killer Lincoln, A JW Steakhouse Muddled cherries and Peychaud’s Bitters add a sweet and floral aroma to this artful combination of Maker’s Mark bourbon, Grand Marnier and Rosso Sweet Vermouth. $15. 480.905.7979; www.lincolnrestaurantpv.com. Date Night ZuZu Lounge This fruit-forward cocktail blends Cruz Reposado Tequila, orange liqueur and Fee Brothers orange and cranberry bitters, respectively. It’s combined with a housemade cranberry date simple syrup for a hint of sweetness. The finishing touch is a Chinese five-spice sugared rim and fresh orange zest. $13. www.hotelvalleyho.com.
PHOTO BY DEBBY WOLVOS
My Lil Friend Char Kitchen+Bar A mix of Four Roses Bourbon, Don Ciccio & Figli Nocino Walnut Liqueur, and St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur is all brought together with AZ Bitters Lab’s Más Mole Bitters, which has cacao nibs and three types of dried chilies for a kick. $12. www.charkitchen.com. The Rested Peach Thirsty Camel Fee Brothers peach and orange bitters are dashed into this drink to ramp up the flavors of lemon juice and peach puree. They are combined with El Jimador Añejo Tequila and finished with rosemary-infused agave nectar for sweetness. $15. www.thephoenician.com.
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So Scottsdale! February ‘18
Clove Actually Sel Clove syrup and both lemon and orange bitters give this cocktail a warm, romantic aroma and taste. They are combined with a blend of Bulleit Rye Whiskey and Gran Gala, an orange liqueur that complements the bitters, for a spirit-forward drink perfect for a winter date. $15. www.selrestaurant.com. Blood Orange Old Fashioned Hearth ’61 With Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters, Bulleit Rye and housemade simple syrup, this citrus-infused take on an Old-Fashioned cuts the rich body of the classic cocktail with a mellow blend of exotic notes that, while powerful, sits a little sweeter on the palate. $15. www.mountainshadows.com. B N B House Manhattan Bourbon & Bones A darker twist on a traditional Manhattan, this features housemade bitters finished with pipe tobacco. It’s mixed with Woodford Reserve bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, and Grade A maple syrup. The result is the vibe of a high-end cigar shop – but without all the smoke. $18. www.bourbonandbonesaz.com. Jalisco Firehouse Famous 48 Spice things up a bit with a blend of Patron Silver Tequila and housemade (and hot!) habanero bitters balanced out with agave nectar and fresh lime juice, then served over ice with a Tajin-rimmed glass. $13. www.famous48.com. Last Great Wine Thief North Italia Plymouth Gin, sauvignon blanc and clover honey are amped up with a secret ingredient, a hopped grapefruit bitters that adds a pop of citrus and sour. $10. www.northitaliarestaurant.com.