Still & Barrel opened in North-Central Phoenix last spring with one of the most ambitious whiskey programs in town. Thus, ordering a tropical cocktail from the menu feels a little like getting the salmon at a steakhouse – a near-criminal waste of an opportunity. Given the triple-digit temperatures outside, however, the tiki-esque Make It Rain makes perfect sense.
Conceived by general manager Cliff Cragg, it drinks like the offspring of Caribbean Rum Punch and a French 75 – a festive, fruity sipper that goes down dangerously easy. The key here is the final flourish of crisp Chandon Brut sparkling wine, pushing the flavors over the top into a refreshing bundle that’s light and not overly sweet.
Enjoying a “downpour” of this quaffable cocktail at home is a breeze. Combine:
- ½ oz. Diplomático Planas Rum
- ½ oz Smuggler’s Reserve Overproof Jamaican Rum
- 1 oz. Avuá Amburana Cachaça
- ½ oz. Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur
- ½ oz. Reàl Madagascar Vanilla Syrup
- ½ oz. fresh lime juice
- into a shaker tin with ice
- Shake well and double-strain over pebble ice into a goblet or tiki-style glass.
Before you serve, top it off with a splash of Chandon Brut sparkling wine. Finish with a lime wheel and fresh sprig of mint, and enjoy this Tiki getaway before you slip back into whiskey mode in the fall.
$17
Still & Barrel
5812 N. 16th St., Phoenix
602-300-7900, stillandbarrelphx.com
