Some of our favorite things about every new season are the new drinks that are revealed. Since nothing beats a good cocktail we rounded up some of the tastiest cocktails from across the Valley. Some include recipes to try at home and others are descriptions of the latest drinks for you to taste when you’re out and about town.

Try them out and let us know what you think. We know we will. Cheers!

The Altos Romero

The Altos Romero, courtesy of Bink’s Kitchen in Scottsdale, is a drink that is the perfect culmination of everything fresh and Spring-like, according to the restaurant.

The Altos Romero, courtesy of Bink’s Kitchen in Scottsdale, is a drink that is the perfect culmination of everything fresh and Spring-like.

It utilizes Altos Reposado, which is a farm-to-table tequila made from 100% Blue Agave. It is paired with Aperol, a citrusy liquor that infuses fresh orange, herbs, and roots including rhubarb, and is then topped with a crisp apple liquor and a healthy squeeze of fresh lemon, orange, and a touch of rosemary orange shrub.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz. Altos Reposado
• 1/2 oz. Aperol
• 1/2 oz. Schönauer Apfel
• 3/4 oz. Orange Rosemary Shrub
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1/4 oz. Lemon
• 1/4 oz. Orange

Directions

1. Build ingredients in shaker.
2. Shake and pour over ice in a double rocks glass.
3. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

The French Maid

The April featured cocktail at ZuZu Lounge at Hotel Valley Ho is The French Maid.

The French Maid is the featured cocktail at ZuZu Lounge at Hotel Valley Ho.

To make it at home, you can shake up these ingredients: Grey Goose La Poire pear vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, triple sec, soda water, muddled mint, and fresh cucumber. If you want to have it at ZuZu, it’s $12.

Two Birds with One Stone

The team at the Onyx Bar & Lounge at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North has created a fantastic cocktail that can be served hot or cold, called Two Birds with One Stone.

Two Birds With One Stone at Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North

According to staff, the cocktail was inspired by the environmental extremes of living in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Dewars White Label lends earthy tones as a base spirit, Rishi loose leaf chamomile tea provides floral notes and color, paired with local Sonoran honey, house-made orange marmalade and locally grown Meyer lemons. The drink is poured table side and served with candied citrus rinds.

L.I.A.H. (Life Is a Highway)

Debuting this month at Z’Tejas, the L.I.A.H. is a great one to try in-restaurant and at home.

L.I.A.H (stands for Life Is a Highway) is featured at Z’Tejas

Ingredients

• ½ lemon
• 2 fl oz. Agave Nectar Prep
• 1½ fl oz. Hornitos Plata
• To Fill Iced Tea (Brewed)
• Sugar Rim
• 1 lemon wheel

Directions

1. Fill a margarita glass with ice.
2. Cut the lemon in half and hand squeeze juice from the half lemon in a margarita glass.
3. Add ingredients into a margarita glass with ice.
4. Top margarita glass with iced tea.
5. Pour ingredients from margarita glass into the shaker.
6. Rim the margarita glass with sugar.
7. Shake and pour into a sugar-rimmed margarita glass.
8. The liquid should not touch the sugar rim.
9. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Cocktails at jade bar

The Wander With Wonder team loves sipping cocktails jade bar at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. If you want to learn more about cocktails at jade bar, be sure to check out Susan’s feature on the Mixology 101 classes. 

Cantaloupe Martini from jade bar at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain

This Spring, jade bar is home to two new delicious cocktails:

Cantaloupe Martini

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. Titos Vodka
• 2 oz. Watermelon liqueur
• Splash orange juice (fresh)
• Splash lime juice (fresh)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients with ice and shake.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a cantaloupe ball.

Luck of the Irish

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Redbreast
• 1oz. Guinness
• simple syrup
• ¾ oz. lemon juice
• ½ oz. apple juice

Directions

1. Combine ingredients into a shaker.
2. Shake and pour into a cocktail glass.

The AZGNT

The perfect spot to enjoy the AZGNT is where it was created— at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. You can also create and enjoy the AZGNT at home with this easy-to-follow recipe.

Try the AzGNT cocktail at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Arizona Distilling Company’s Commerce Gin
• ¾ oz. John’s Premium® tonic syrup
• 2 dashes of AZ Bitters Lab Orange Sunshine Bitters
• Club Soda, to top
• Rosemary Sprig, to garnish

Directions

1. Build over ice in rocks glass.
2. Garnish with Rosemary Sprig.

The Affinity Cocktail

Local food and drink expert Theresa Greco at The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine has her own favorite spring cocktail, the Affinity. Here is how to make your own delicious Affinity Cocktail.

The Affinity Cocktail is a favorite of The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine

Ingredients

• 1 oz. scotch
• 1 oz. dry vermouth (I used Yzaguirre classic Bianco)
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth (I used Yzaguirre classic Rosso)
• 2 dashes bitters
• 1 lemon peel

Directions

1. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass and stir well.
2. Strain into a cocktail glass.
3. Add lemon peel and enjoy.