We’re far from the first to predict that sotol is going to be the next big thing. In fact, both sotol and it’s sister spirit, bacanora (a Sonoran spirit that, mind you, will likely become the new sotol), have been awaiting star treatment all summer. Agave-hounds with ears to the…
The Spot: North Italia 4925 North 40th Street 602-324-5600 www.northitaliarestaurant.com The Hours: Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day on Sunday Perfect for: Sharing a bottle of wine and some light snacks The Interior: With soaring ceilings and a open-air design, North Italia…
From mulled wine to sangria, wine has been a part of the classic cocktail repertoire for quite some time. And though wine cocktails may not be especially new to the beverage world, wine cocktails currently are trending across the Valley. From syrups to infusions of dessert wine, local bartenders are…
Lately, we’ve noticed a trend: Cocktails in which the bartender could have used gin or vodka but opted instead for white rum. It’s an interesting choice, so we wanted to know, are these clear spirits really interchangeable? And if so, does white rum that can be enjoyed neat actually exist?…
When Aaron May sold Mabel’s on Main to Genuine Concepts — the company that opened four locations of The Vig, as well as The Little Woody and Linger Longer Lounge — nearly one year ago, it left a lot up in the air in the Scottsdale cocktail scene. Mabel’s on…
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a winemaker, you might not have to look very far for answers. Located less than two hours north of the Valley, Yavapai College offers Viticulture and Enology programs that give students the ability to study the ins and outs of growing grapes…
It’s tough to imagine a local wine cafe as popular as Postino. There are four locations around the Valley, two in the works for the East Valley, and one more only weeks away from opening its doors in Denver. If you’ve ever been to Postino — and of course you…
What’s the challenge for a mixologist who must create a cocktail list to pair with a Southern-inspired menu filled with rich, smokey and protein-driven courses? To cut through fat and oils that immediately lay foundation on a diner’s palate and reward them with refreshment. In the summertime you could turn…
Each week we venture to a new restaurant to check out what the spot has to offer during our favorite time of day — happy hour. Whether it’s affordable appetizers, delicious drinks, jaw-dropping deals, or none of the above, we’ll check out the situation and report back. The Spot: Angry…
Brothers Dimitri and Mike Uhlik are trying to begin a new conversation around a spirit called absinthe — one that, unlike this article, doesn’t need to begin with disclaimers about absinthe’s legal history, or the bohemian rituals that see imitation products (“crapsinthe” to those who know better) dyed green and…
We have some bad news that may come as a shock: Not everyone can be the best. We can’t all medal in the 100-meter, receive Best Actor statuettes, or win American Idol. And when it comes to wine, it’s helpful to remember that we can’t all be master sommeliers. In…
It is the opinion of this blog that measuring weight in pounds is silly. The unit is severely outdated — the Avoirdupois pound, the version of a pound we utilize in the U.S., first went into use in the 14th Century — and the units that make it up are…
Each week we venture to a new restaurant to check out what the spot has to offer during our favorite time of day — happy hour. Whether it’s affordable appetizers, delicious drinks, jaw-dropping deals, or none of the above, we’ll check out the situation and report back. The Spot: The Clever…
By now it’s fairly clear that the modern speakeasy has become its own antithesis. These dark, precise concepts, like the famed Death & Co. in New York City’s West Village or Employee’s Only in its East, have garnered the most attention worldwide, not the least. The latter of the two,…
Each week we venture to a new restaurant to check out what the spot has to offer during our favorite time of day — happy hour. Whether it’s affordable appetizers, delicious drinks, jaw-dropping deals, or none of the above, we’ll check out the situation and report back. The Spot: Umami 21…
Before about 8 p.m. last Thursday, this was going to be a very different article. It would’ve been a lighthearted tale of a beer’s creation, plus some tasting notes. I might have even thrown in a joke or two. But then this news dropped: “The Firestone Walker and Duvel Moortgat…
While brawls in bars have long favored brawn over brain, Sanctuary Resort’s new cocktail competition series, Bar Brawl, will favor the more cerebral elements of the bar — the gloves-off, hands-on crafting of fine cocktails. And competitors will be under just a little bit of pressure, with a champion’s trip…
Have you ever felt mystified while looking over a restaurant wine list? Or wondered what wine to serve with your homemade pasta bolognese? Maybe you’ve wanted to visit French wine country but haven’t known where to begin. Lucky for you, wine education and travel just become a lot more accessible…
Each week we venture to a new restaurant to check out what they have to offer during our favorite time of day — happy hour. Whether it’s the most delectable appetizers, the best beverages, jaw-dropping deals, or none of the above, we’ll vet the entire situation and tell all about…
A few years ago, I helped open a World of Beer location in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. On opening night, we had 49 taps flowing mostly local brews: Revolution, Goose Island, Three Floyd’s. But one local draft, belonging to a mysterious little brewery called Small Town, was getting much…
The invention of boxed wine (also known as cask, goon, or boxy wine) turned 50 years old this spring. Modeled after portable leather bladders used to transport personal wine in Spain, the bag-in-a-box wine package is sometimes synonymous with cheapness, excess vice, and low quality. However, everyone has at least one…
Frozen and frappe-style cocktails have had a few good seasons under their belts in larger cities like Chicago and San Francisco, but these frozen drinks have yet to gain real popularity in the Valley. (Though, to be fair, Joshua James of The Clever Koi did do Negroni snow cones for…
