As Phoenix mixologists work through the somewhat overwhelming task of getting our fair Valley on the map of craft cocktailing, reinforcements from Portland, Oregon have arrived by way of Ryan Magarian. The decorated career bartender and brain behind Aviation Gin, a craft, small-batch spirit, was hired on to completely transform…
The Spot: Kitchen 56 3433 North 56th Street, Phoenix 480-994-5656 www.kitchen56.com…
Denver is a sadder, quieter place this week. The vendors have broken down their booths; the brewers have packed up their jockey boxes; the drinkers have sobered up. The 2013 Great American Beer Festival is over and done. But all is not lost. Held every year since 1982 in the…
Beer: Oude Geuze Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen Style: Gueuze ABV: 6 percent Acidic. Funky. Skunky. Barnyard. Vinegar. Cat pee. Horse blanket. Usually, these are not words you want associated with your food. But beer, as we know, is a magical nectar in which even the most unexpected, obnoxious flavors can…
As crafty as some of my favorite bartenders are with their cocktails, I’m surprised that the old, forgotten Boulevardier cocktail is just starting to gain traction. Quite a few libationists I know drink Negronis with abandon. Most of these same folks also greatly enjoy whiskey drinks, especially ones made with…
It’s tough to be a gin girl in a Wild West whiskey world. Although whiskey still dominates the conversation in most imbibing circles, gin does have a strong presence in the craft cocktail world, due to its unique botanical flavor. How each mixologist chooses to expand on that herbal base…
The Spot: The Duce 525 South Central Avenue 602-866-3823 www.theducephx.com…
Beer: Trooper Brewery: Robinsons Brewery Style: Extra Special Bitter ABV: 4.7 percent Ever wanted to brew a commercial beer, but don’t want to go through all those tiresome steps like investing in equipment, buying ingredients or, you know, actually learning to brew? Well you’re in luck, my friend! These days,…
These days, a sure sign of autumn’s arrival (or at least what passes for it in these parts) is the reintroduction of pumpkin spice-flavored everything on store shelves. I have a better idea. Let’s break out the Chartreuse. What is Chartreuse, you ask? For starters, it’s a yellow-green color. It’s…
The Spot: Petite Maison 7216 East Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale 480-991-6887 www.petitemaisonaz.com…
Beer: Green Bullet Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Co. Style: Imperial IPA ABV: 10.1 percent Science tells us that, biologically speaking, the best time to taste a beer is in the morning, when your senses are sharpest. So when evaluating a beer for a review, I’ll often wake up early and…
Cocktail trends come and go. I was talking with some friends, and realized that the appletini had quietly become passé a few years ago. I do have a certain nostalgia for them. I blame their popularity in my nascent drinking years. I remember extensive discussions with friends about what places…
The Spot: Cocina 10 in Crescent Ballroom 308 N. 2nd Ave. 602.716.2222 http://www.crescentphx.com/kitchen/…
Goodness, I’ve been getting lots of questions lately. I love it. Send me more! Leave them in the comments if you so desire. This week’s burning question reads: “What’s the difference between white and green crème de menthe, and white and dark crème de cacao? And why is it ‘crème’…
The Spot: Bootleggers 3375 East Shea Boulevard, Phoenix 602-996-4228 www.bootleggersaz.com…
Beer: Peach Ale Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Co. Style: Fruit Beer ABV: 4.5 percent Screw you guys; I like fruit beer. A combative start to the column, sure, but a necessary one, for although craft beer has made immeasurable strides in becoming an accepted — if not integral — part…
By Pavle Milic In this occasional series, FnB’s Pavle Milic spills about his current mission to learn how wine is made, literally, from the Southern Arizona ground up. I have lived in Arizona on and off for twenty-four years. In that time I’ve seen a lot of growth and change…
A curious reader recently asked me: Why do all you bartenders love Fernet Branca so much? You know, that’s a really good question. I partake in Fernet Branca on a semi-regular basis. I enjoy it enough that I’ve written about cocktails with it. But calling Fernet Branca an acquired taste…
The Spot: Last Drop Bar 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley 602-955-7878 www.hermosainn.com…
Beers: Gregorius; Benno Styles: Belgian Strong Dark Ale; Dubbel Brewery: Stift Engelszell ABV: 9.7; 6.9 If, at some future moment, I am compelled by the holy spirit to give up my house, car and cushy blogging gig for a life on religious contemplation, I think I’ll become a Trappist. Also…
One of my favorite uses for flavored vodka has to be Lemon Drops. As far as drinks go, they’re almost foolproof. I’ll even tolerate low-rent ones made with (gasp!) bottled sour mix. While the vast majority of Lemon Drops out there are at least somewhat drinkable, a well-made one is…
“Join our wine-tasting group,” Pavle Milic offered as I was delivering wine to FnB, the the Old Town Scottsdale restaurant he runs with Charleen Badman. I was in. I am so out of practice, and I just don’t drink a wide range of wine. I live with my wife, my…
