The Phoenix Cocktail
Inspired by regional cocktails with legendary notoriety such as New York City's iconic Manhattan cocktail, Mayor Kate Gallego set on a mission to create Phoenix's first signature city cocktail. In partnership with Visit Phoenix, the Mayor's office collaborated with local cocktail industry professionals from award-winning bars such as Little Rituals and Century Grand, among others.
With that, the Spirit of Phoenix cocktail contest was born. We gave contestants very few rules. They needed to live in a Phoenix zip code, the cocktail had to be made via a "traditional" bar technique, a maximum of three house made ingredients could be used, no more than two ounces used for the base spirit, one full ounce had to be Milagro Tequila, and local and indigenous ingredients were encouraged.
With those limitations set in place, local mixologist Nicole Long's recipe for "The Phoenix" came in at first place, voted on by residents of the city of Phoenix. Long crafted a unique cocktail recipe that was selected as the cocktail most representative of our bold and diverse city. With homemade Chiltepin mesquite honey syrup, prickly pear fruit, and lemon juice from lemon’s picked by Nicole, her cocktail is a true garden-to-glass experience.
The Recipe
Back to Top of List"The Phoenix" cocktail recipe:
Shake in tin with:
- 2 oz reposado Tequila
- 1 oz mesquite honey syrup*
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 oz REAL prickly pear puree infused syrup
Garnish: Dehydrated lemon and Chiltepin peppers
*If unavailable, use hot honey syrup as a substitute
Where You Can Order "The Phoenix" Cocktail
Back to Top of ListWhere You Can Order "The Phoenix" Cocktail
Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails
Santo Arcadia
Hotel Valley Ho
CIELO at ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection
Someburros (Gilbert location)
Sky Harbor Airport:
Terminal 3
- Escape Lounge - Post-security Lobby Area
- SanTan Brewing Company - Near Gate F6
- The Tavern - Near Gate F3
Terminal 4
- Chelsea's Kitchen - Pre-Security
- Chevrount Restaurant & Wine Bar - Pre-Security
- PHX FLT Club - Pre-Security
- Blanco Taco & Tequila - Near Gate A5
- Four Peaks Brewing Company - Near Gate A20
- The Refuge - Near Gate B8
- OHSO - Near Gate B9
- Cowboy Ciao - Near Gate B21
- Escape Lounge - Near Gate B22
- Zinc Brasserie - Near Gate C11
- Sir Veza's - Near Gate C13
- Barrio Cafe - Near Gate D1
- Pedal Haus Brewery - Near Gate D11
- SIP Coffee & Beer - Near Gate D12
Deer Valley Airport
The Phoenix Cocktail Contest was judged by local cocktail industry veterans Aaron DeFeo, Jason Asher, Jax Donahue, Zach O’Haire, Shannon A. Krol, Micah Olson, and Kim Haasarud.
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