It's official: Phoenix has a signature cocktail — and it tastes like the Sonoran desert
In February 2024, Mayor Kate Gallego, Visit Phoenix and the Arizona Restaurant Association put out a call to bartenders, asking them to craft a cocktail that represented the city through Spirit of Phoenix: Craft the City’s Signature Cocktail Competition. The Valley's mixologists and beverage enthusiasts rolled up their sleeves and started experimenting with ingredients to design a cocktail that embodied "the dynamic community, creativity and innovation that defines our diverse communities and our renowned food and beverage scene."
After the recipe submission, a panel of 20 judges narrowed the participants to four. Then residents voted in two rounds to choose the winner, which was announced by the mayor on June 2.
Nicole Long of Santo Arcadia and Pecado made the winning tipple.
“Nicole’s cocktail dazzled us with its ingenuity, expertly incorporating local ingredients that capture the bold spirit of our city," Mayor Gallego said. "I’m excited that Nicole’s outstanding creation will be the official city cocktail that delivers an incredible taste of Phoenix to visitors and residents alike.”
What is the official Phoenix cocktail?
“When I first saw the Spirit of Phoenix Cocktail Competition, I knew that my recipe had to be spicy, and I definitely wanted to use local ingredients,” Long said in a news release. “The first thing I did was list out who this cocktail is for, how it can highlight Phoenix and what Phoenicians like to drink; I wanted this to be a simpler cocktail, something you could make at home or having at a barbecue with friends and family and something you could get here in the Valley at a bar or restaurant."
The cocktail, aptly named The Phoenix, is made with prickly pear, homemade chiltepin pepper honey syrup, lemons (from Long's own yard) and Milagro tequila.
Where to find The Phoenix
The Valley restaurants and bars will start to offer The Phoenix in the near future.
How to make The Phoenix cocktail at home
Make The Phoenix at home with this simple recipe.
Makes: 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
2 ounces reposado Milagro
1 ounce Chiltepines mesquite honey syrup
1 ounce lemon juice
? ounce prickly pear
Garnish: Dehydrated lemon and peppers
Instructions:
Add all ingredients except garnish into a shaker tin with ice. Shake until cold and then strain into a coupe or other cocktail glass. Garnish with dried lemon wheel and chili pepper.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: City of Phoenix official cocktail: Local flavors with a kick