Best ode to a spirit
Scotch Library at The Westin Kierland
Scotch demands reverence, and there’s no better spot in the Valley to revel in the elegance and tradition of this august, oaked spirit than the Scotch Library. Peruse more than 300 bottles of Scotch whiskies and chat with a passionate “ambassador,” who will guide you through your sipping journey, from peaty Highlands whiskies to rich, sherried Speysides. For first-timers and cognoscenti alike, it will be your new church of scotchery. Reservations are required.
6902 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale, 480-624-1202 marriott.com
Best Spiked Punch
Lux Salon
Social distancing and sourdough starters were all the rage in 2020. Gathering with friends at the bar? Not so much. The clever crew at Lux Central saw this as silver lining and took the downtime to turn a little-used back area into an upscale watering hole. Lux Salon, helmed by crack mixologist Sammy Black, offers a daily rotating punch utilizing seasonal ingredients. This summer, expect lots of vodka, Prosecco, sangria and refreshing elements such as citrus, strawberries, ginger, thyme, mint and honey.
4402 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-327-1396, @_luxsalon
Best Place to Geek Out on Wine and Music
Far Away Wine
Named for a Rolling Stones song, this cozy, living room-like space, owned by wine industry vets Pat Jasmin and Chris French, is the ultimate un-wine bar, an unpretentious hangout offering obscure, affordable global wines by the glass and an awesome vinyl collection you can browse and spin.
3031 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, 602-314-6612, farawaywineaz.com
Best Sunset Cocktail Spot
Don Woods’ Say When
Perched atop the ultra-modern Rise Uptown Hotel, DWSW is the glass-and-steel, cocktail-driven answer to the laid-back Lylo pool bar below. With an indoor-outdoor layout and almost-360-degree views of Uptown Phoenix – let’s call it 290 – it’s also an epic spot for an end-of-the-week sunset viewing party, slickened with a vast menu of cocktails authored by Ross Simon of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour fame. Think of it as your aerie of late-p.m. inebriation.
400 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 480-536-8900, riseuptownhotel.com
Best New Brewery
Hundred Mile Brewing
Squirreled away between Tempe Town Lake and a hotel parking lot, this sprawling brewpub can be a bit tricky to find – just follow the steady stream of beer enthusiasts enticed by head brewer Valerie Adee’s elegant lagers and low-yield IPAs, perfectly suited to rising Valley temps. The food menu performs above the brewpub norm, too, with a killer, sausage-driven charcuterie board and one of the Valley’s best fried chicken sammies.
690 N. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, 480-256-1623, hundredmilebrewing.com
Best Phish Bar
Rift Wine + Tap
Jonathan Coppins and Damien Kanser opened their wine and craft beer bar in 2020, ostensibly to create a watering hole for this Scottsdale neighborhood. The Phish heads did that and then some, establishing a gathering spot that attracts fans of the progressive jam band far and wide. They offer Troy’s Trivia nights, stream Phish shows and generally aim to help patrons “set the gearshift for the high gear of your soul.” Even if you’re not a Phish fan, there’s still great wine and brews.
431 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-758-5111, riftbaraz.com
Best Shop for Arizona Wine
Wine Collective of Scottsdale
This intimate wine bar and bottle shop curated by wine maven Zoya Vora-Shah is your one-stop spot for tasting more than 40 varieties of Arizona wine, from well-known mainstays like Page Springs Cellars to up-and-comers like 1764 Vineyards. She also offers wine flights paired with charcuterie and cheese along with local Carolina’s Chocolate, and holds Meet the Winemaker nights and other special events.
4020 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-912-1746, the-wine-collective.com
Best Cocktail Bar for the Crystals Crowd
Quartz
A cocktail bar with a menu inspired by gemstones? Forget Sedona, we’re seeking healing energy here. Sip your birthstone drink in the main bar and then book a reservation in The Cave, Quartz’s inner sanctum, where mixologist Maxwell Berlin and beverage director Paul Waxman have crafted incredibly complex cocktails – and an otherworldly aesthetic experience – inspired by Earth’s great deserts. It’s artsy. It’s high-concept. It’s a vibe.
341 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, 602-385-0299, quartzphx.com
Best Old Thing to Drink On
The Bar at Simple Machine Grand
Rehabilitated after a motorist smashed through one of its walls, Glendale’s Gaslight Building has returned as the new flagship location of Simple Machine Brewing Co. Belying its 100-year age, the vintage hardwood bar inside the joint sports a new bank of cushy stools and is perfect for bellying up and enjoying any fermented bev that suits you. You can even soak up some of those sips with spätzle brought over from Haus Murphys next door.
5743 W. Glendale Ave., 9623-469-9199, simplemachinebrewing.com
Best Arizona-Centric Cocktail
Cattle at Bar 1912
At this minimalist hideaway, tucked behind sister restaurant Valentine, barman Blaise Faber celebrates Arizona’s fabled 5 Cs via bevvies. The Cattle cocktail – combining rye, tequila and a single-malt whiskey from Tucson, fat-washed in beef tallow and served in a mesquite-smoked coupe – makes the cattle, cowboys and campfires it evokes seem downright elegant.
4130 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, 602-612-2961, 1912phx.com
Best Motivation to Keep Dry January Going All Year Long
Garden Bar
822 N. Sixth Ave., 602-824-3285, gardenbarphx.com
- Lines up a deep bench of zero-proof spirits that emulate the flavor profiles of alcoholic ones.
- Makes booze-free goodies like CBD tinctures and Amaro Averna alternative “noverna” in-house.
- Trains bartenders to expertly transform any cocktail into a mocktail. Try a lovely gimlet with Free Spirits gin, thyme, lavender, marjoram and lime.
Teddy’s Preserve
1001 N Central Ave., 602-675-0389, teddyspreserve.com
- Bright and balanced flavor combinations such as cardamom and pomegranate or ginger and rosemary mimic craft cocktails.
- Scratch-made cordials and mixes produce one-of-a-kind flavor profiles.
- Fresh garnishes like basil and grapefruit add to the aesthetic. “It’s a good drink, whether it’s alcoholic or not,” says bar manager Jordan Daniels, who created half of the mocktail menu.
