Who would've thought that a moonshine and barbecue dinner could go highbrow? Well, leave it to Old Town Scottsdale's iteration of Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse to make it so. The Moonshine Madness dinner features a five-course (plus dessert) menu, each with its own moonshine cocktail to pair with it. Some highlights include a bacon-infused moonshine paired with Brussels sprouts, housemade orgeat, and a host of other fresh, flavorful handmade ingredients. However, that's not all the exciting news on what's shaking with Bootleggers' moonshine.
Although moonshine has not been highly regarded in the past, craft moonshine makers and purveyors like Bootleggers have refined moonshine cocktails to an art. Bootleggers mixologist Gavin Peña has pretty much dominated the moonshine conversation in Phoenix with his apple pie moonshine, which has been so popular that its currently being bottled. That's right, you'll soon be able to find the impossibly smooth (for a 151-proof knockout) liquor at your local grocery store. If you can't wait till then, you can get it a la mode as dessert at Bootleggers' upcoming moonshine dinner on January 6. Here's the menu:
First Course: -Burnt ends with fried corn grits, pickled slaw and micro cilantro -Platte Valley Corn Shine, Angostura bitters, housemade orgeat, lemon and nutmeg
Second Course: -Shaved Brussels sprouts salad with grapefuit supremes, Marcona almonds, wild arugula, aged white cheddar, smoked maple vinegarette -Bacon-infused Midnight Moon original, Maraska maraschino liqueur, fresh-pressed apple cider and lime
Third Course: -Spiced sweet potato bisque with king crab and arugula pesto -Lemon-infused Midnight Moon original, basil, grapefruit and lime
Fourth Course: -Fried chicken thigh with mini buttermilk biscuits, hot link gravy and pickled jalapeno jam -Midnight Moon blueberry, Cuttysark Prohibition edition scotch, Angostura bitters, pomegranate molasses, lemon and orange
Fifth Course: -Soy caramel glazed St. Louis rib with green onion, Serrano peppers, sesame seed, cabbage, lime and cilantro -Midnight Moon blackberry, sarsaparilla syrup, Abbott's bitters and lemon peel
Dessert: -Apple Pie Moonshine float with "grandma's pie crust"
With all that flavor-packed comfort food paired with craft moonshine cocktails the likes of which you can't find anywhere else in town, we're pretty much sold (New Year's resolutions be damned). $50 (plus tax and gratuity) gets you your seat for the Moonshine Madness dinner, which takes place on Monday, January 6 at 6 p.m. at the new Bootleggers location off of Scottsdale Road and First Street. To make your reservations, visit OpenTable.com or call (480) 404-9984.
