Like many other areas of the US southwest, just a few years ago Phoenix's de facto cocktail of was the Margarita, or perhaps a patrician Gin & Tonic to sip by the golfing green.
But over the past couple of years cocktail culture has accelerated in Phoenix - so much so that the city will play host to the first-ever Arizona Cocktail Week from February 19-25.
"There's a lot of garden-to-glass out here," explains festival organiser Jason Asher, referring to the growing trend to use local and seasonal ingredients in making drinks. " using Arizona produce as much as possible, particularly local citrus, which is appropriate for a climate like ours." While Tucson (about an hour and a half away) has also developed a lively cocktail scene, Phoenix and adjacent Scottsdale - best known to many business travellers as a golf mecca - has developed a stellar roster of bartending talent.
Click here to see the original article>"There's a lot of garden-to-glass out here," explains festival organiser Jason Asher, referring to the growing trend to use local and seasonal ingredients in making drinks. " using Arizona produce as much as possible, particularly local citrus, which is appropriate for a climate like ours." While Tucson (about an hour and a half away) has also developed a lively cocktail scene, Phoenix and adjacent Scottsdale - best known to many business travellers as a golf mecca - has developed a stellar roster of bartending talent.