Best Daiquiri 2008 | Padre's Modern Mexican Cuisine | Bars & Clubs | Phoenix
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Best Daiquiri

Padre's Modern Mexican Cuisine

We'd always been big fans of the margaritas at Padre's, but, as every drinker knows, man cannot live on margaritas alone. So we scanned the menu one night and found Padre's signature daiquiri — and we're pleased to say we've never looked back. Named for Ernest Hemingway, who was a daiquiri lush, Padre's version isn't the stiff slush that you might remember your great-aunt drinking in Acapulco. A simple mix of rum, fresh lime juice, and a touch of sugar, it's light, tart, and divine. Somewhere in Heaven, Papa is smiling.

Best Tequila Selection

Barrio Café

Allison Young

Finding the best liquor selection is just a matter of geography. If you want a killer poured pint, visit an Irish bar. For wine, try a European bistro. So, it's no surprise that we discovered the best tequila selection at a top-rated Mexican restaurant. Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza's neighborhood cafe boasts more than 250 top-shelf, premium, and Super-Jalisco tequilas, from the classic and relatively inexpensive Jose Cuervo to rarer, extra-añejo (well-aged) varieties. Because the choices are so vast, the Barrio's bartenders will recommend a great pairing, much as a sommelier would help you select the perfect wine. And they won't even fault uninitiated gringos for looking for the worm — which is only found in mescal, a different type of liquor made from the agave plant.

Best Mojito

Fuego Bistro

The perfect mojito is light and refreshing, with a sweet overtone that masks the kick of the rum. That's why we love the Prickly Pear version at Fuego Bistro, in central Phoenix. The flavor is subtler than the mojito's standard lemony notes, and tastes a little like watermelon without the sickening sweetness that comes with most fruity drinks. Mojito purists might argue that the lack of mint and citrus disqualifies this one, but we say get with the times! Any place that carries 61 rums and 12 flavorings sure as hell knows what a mojito is. Do the math. That's over 700 possible combinations, and Fuego's mixologists know how to make 'em all.

Best Sangria

Ticoz Resto-Bar

This colorful hotspot — popular both with stylin' gay guys and ladies who lush — does a great job with every drink on the menu. Lychee mojito? Guavatini? Trust us: You can't go wrong. But our quaff of choice has become Ticoz's passion fruit sangria. Think Cabernet, passion fruit, pineapple, and orange, all in a lightly iced blend. Yum! And for just $7, we guarantee you're going to want more than one glass.

Best Margarita

Cien Agaves

Jamie Peachey

They've got nine very interesting margaritas on the menu at Cien Agaves — and though we are normally a sucker for things flavored with pomegranate or tinged with tamarind, we never exactly got around to trying any of the specialty versions here. Why? The house margarita — just $4 during happy hour and $7 the rest of the time — was so damn good that we pledged our eternal loyalty on the spot. The Jose Cuervo-based drink tastes just as good as the top-shelf margs we've had down the street. And unlike some lesser Mexican spots, Cien Agaves would never dream of using bottled sour mix instead of fresh squeezed lime. Perfecto.

Best Local Beer

Cordillera Blanca White Chocolate Ale

Courtesy of Pinnacle Peak

Sonoran's commercial description calls Cordillera Blanca White Chocolate Ale "light, refreshing, and completely unique," and, for once, it's not just a bullshit company line. Chocolate stouts are pretty commonplace now, but this is the first time we've had a light, honey-colored chocolate beer at a local pub. We adore Cordillera Blanca because it's potent, but pale and sweet enough to drink any time of day. The ale has a thin white head that never seems to disappear and just the right balance of hoppiness, with a slight bittersweet aftertaste. If you've got a good nose for beer, Cordillera Blanca smells a bit like beer-infused brownies (what an awesome idea!) with hazelnut and vanilla notes. It's a deceptively light little brew, so be careful. At 4.7 percent alcohol, and with a body that's nearly as weightless as iced tea, it'd be pretty easy to get yourself in trouble with Sheriff Joe over this one.

Best Beer for Wine Snobs

Hopsquatch Barleywine at Four Peaks Grill & Tap

So you won't drink anything not served in a crystal goblet. You sneer at the thought of second-growth Bordeaux. Well, wine snobs beware, there's a new kid in town — and he's knocking down your asinine assumptions about beer faster than you can say Gewurztraminer. Four Peaks' Hopsquatch Barleywine comes from a centuries-old English recipe that uses extra malt to produce a super-strength beer as potent as wine. After being aged for a year in stainless steel containers, the resulting brew has a sweet, rich flavor reminiscent of port or sherry. Yes, we know. A beer named after a mythical monster doesn't have the pedigree of a 40-year-old Cabernet. But if you can pull the grapevine out of your rear for one second and give Hopsquatch a chance, this three-time World Beer Cup award winner is a damn fine brew.

Best Drinking Story

Mary Cope at Yucca Tap Room

Jennifer Goldberg

Mary Cope has tended bar at Yucca Tap Room for 22 years. A lot of her stories are too graphic (even for us) to print, but she does have one that qualifies as a classic.

A man walks into the bar and orders a drink from Ms. Cope. She can tell right away that he's three sheets to the wind. She asks him to leave; when he refuses, she escorts him out the back entrance.

A few minutes later, the man walks in the front entrance, makes eye contact with Cope, shakes his head and walks out. A few more moments pass and he walks through the other front entrance. This time he makes eye contact with Cope and says, "Do you work at every goddamn bar in Tempe?"

Don't get it? Swing by Yucca Tap Room and count the entrances . . . and get out more.

Best Of Phoenix®

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