At Barcoa Agaveria, a new bar in downtown Phoenix that specializes in mezcal and other agave spirits, you can sip a glass of El Jolgorio Pechuga distilled with spices and fruits and, get this — a raw turkey breast. (“Pechuga” means “breast” in Spanish) The 1.5 ounce pour will set you back $33.
Chantico in north-central Phoenix is one of the many Mexican restaurants that have popped up in Arizona that feature an Old Fashioned, one of the most classic of American cocktails, made not with the traditional bourbon but with mezcal. It’s called a Oaxaca Old Fashioned.
And at 15 Salsas, a Mexican restaurant in the Sunnyslope section of Phoenix that features moles, tlayudas and other Oaxacan specialties, you can try budget-friendly cocktails made from Mezcal Carreño, imported by two Phoenix entrepreneurs, and other top-shelf artisanal mezcals mixed with authentic ingredients such as hibiscus flowers, known as “jamaica” in Spanish. A mezcal drink here is about half the price of some or the more trendy mezcal spots around the Valley.
The list of bars and restaurants to sample cocktails made with mezcal or to enjoy pours of high-end artisanal mezcal neat keeps growing.
Here is a partial list:
Oaxaca-owned restaurant in Phoenix’s Sunnyslope area, serving tlayuda, open-faced tortillas topped with mole or other ingredients that resemble pizzas, and other authentic Oaxacan dishes that also features a Mezcal bar stocked with high-end mezcals priced far below trendier spots.
Details: 722 W. Hatcher Road, Phoenix. 602-870-2056. https://las-15-salsas-restaurant-oaxaqueno.negocio.site/
Named after the agave spirit produced in Sonora, Arizona’s neighbor to the south in Mexico, this Grand Avenue restaurant features cocktails made with bacanora, mezcal and tequila.
Details: 1301 NW Grand Ave. Unit 1, Phoenix. 602-612-4018. https://www.bacanoraphx.com/
This bar near Roosevelt Row off First Avenue features two levels, an upstairs cantina-style bar and a basement level room stocked with a huge selection of mezcals, tequilas and other agave spirits to sip neat, or in a craft cocktail. It also has an agave room where classes on agave spirits are offered.
Details: 829 N. First Ave., Phoenix. https://barcoaphx.com/
More: Here’s what to know about Barcoa, the new tequila bar in downtown Phoenix
The restaurant that helped set the standard for authentic Mexican cuisine in Phoenix offers a great selection of mezcal and tequilas.
Details: 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-636-0240. https://www.barriocafe.com/
A taco tour of Calle 16 in Phoenix: Street tacos, quesabirria and make-your-own platters
Located inside the historic San Carlos Hotel in downtown Phoenix, this modern Mexican restaurant specializes in hand-crafted mezcal and tequila cocktails.
Details: 202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-8226. https://www.centricophx.com/
Chantico in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic
A restaurant that harnesses the vibe of Mexico City on Camelback Road is known for its large selection of mezcals.
Details: 1051 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-699-3015. https://www.chanticophx.com/
This family-owned Mexican restaurant on Grand Avenue serves coffee drinks, juices and smoothies in addition to some hip mezcal cocktails including The Antonio Banderas made with mezcal, spheres of hibiscus, lime juice, and cucumber bitters.
Details: 1325 NW Grand Ave. Suite 4, Phoenix. 602-730-3247. https://elcharrohipster.com/
Courtesy of Cocina Madrigal
This Latinx-owned restaurant on 16th Street developed by chef Leo Madrigal, the former corporate chef at Z-Tejas Grill, offers the entire lineup of locally imported Mezcal Carreño bottles, among other top shelf mezcals.
Details: 4044 S. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-243-9000. https://www.cocinamadrigal.com/
Restaurant featuring creative tacos offers 1-ounce pours of a variety of mezcals, so you can try several without breaking the bank. Located on Camelback Road in the Arcadia area of Phoenix.
Details: 3961 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-687-7777. https://www.crutacos.com/
Tom Tingle/The Republic
Neighborhood Mexican restaurant that serves tacos, tortas and great selection of mezcal in the Garfield neighborhood of Phoenix.
Details: 928 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. 602-237-0880. https://galloblancocafe.com/
Part of the Genuine Concepts group of restaurants that includes The Vig and The Little Woody, this modern Mexican restaurant in the Sunnyslope area of Phoenix has a wall dedicated to bottles of mezcal and tequila.
Details: 8729 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-606-2258. https://laderaphx.com/
More innovative tequila and mezcal cocktails at this newly opened Mexican restaurant on Cactus Road including the “best f#*%ing margarita.”
Details: 4801 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix. 602-812-2100. https://www.themexicano.com/
Persepshen in Phoenix.
Lauren Saria/The Republic
Fine-dining restaurant off Seventh Street that serves locally imported Ensamble 7, crowned best overall mezcal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, in a clay copita paired with sal de gusano and chapulines, fried grasshoppers that are a delicacy in Oaxaca.
Details: 4700 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-935-2932. https://www.persepshenarizona.com/
Modern Latin restaurant at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix offers mezcal cocktails and flights of mezcal as part of its lineup.
Details: 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. 602-954-2507. https://renatashearth.com
A basement speakeasy and intimate music hall in the heart of downtown Phoenix that offers cocktails in honor of Arizona luminaries and politicos including “The (John) McCain” and “The Adrian Fontes,” two drinks made with mezcal.
Details: 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. https://valleybarphx.com/
Espiritu Cocktails + Comida in Mesa.
Courtesy of Armando Chiwas
Mexican seafood restaurant that features an array of creative mezcal, tequila, bacanora and sotol cocktails.
Details: 123 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-398-8129. https://www.espiritumesa.com/
This East Valley restaurant and craft cocktail bar offers an opportunity to drinks made with sotol, a Mexican spirit made from a type of shrub, in contrast to mezcal and tequila made from agave.
Details: 313 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 480-550-6300. https://sotolmck.com/
With seven locations around the Valley, this local chain is known for its tequila drinks, but also features a number of mezcal cocktails.
Details: 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Suite 105, Scottsdale. 480-656- 4197. Multiple other locations across metro Phoenix. https://barrioqueen.com/
With two locations in Old Town and Kierland Commons mall, this modern Latin restaurant features a long list of mezcals and tequilas.
Details: 7122 E. Greenway Parkway, Suite 140, Scottsdale. 480-292-7800. 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale. 480-636-5005. https://www.themissionaz.com/
This Mezcal focused bar in Tuscon offers mezcal tastings every Thursday night.
Details: 403 N. Sixth Ave., Tucson. https://exocoffee.com/
Restaurant in downtown Tucson that offers traditional and modern Central American cuisine that is also a great place to sample mezcal, bacanora and other agave spirit cocktails featuring pre-Colombian ingredients.
Details: 50 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson. 520-203-7681. https://pencarestaurante.com/
The Old West saloon anchors the historic Monte Vista hotel in downtown Flagstaff and features an array of mezcal cocktails.
Details: 100 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff. https://hotelmontevista.com/rendezvous/
Bad Habits: 235 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa. 480-834-5050. https://downtownmesa.com/go/bad-habits
Cellars Fine Wine and Spirits: 10660 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. 602-992-7010. 914 E. Camelback Road # 2, Phoenix. 602-265-9463.
Gilbert Convenient Mart: 118 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 480-926-4478. https://www.facebook.com/gcm.liquor.3/
Grand Canyon Spirits: 982 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. 928-779-6423. https://grandcanyonspirits.com/
Majestic Marketplace: 601 Piccadilly Drive #95, Flagstaff. 928-773-0313. https://majesticmarketplaceaz.com/
Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines, Tucson. https://www.plazatucson.com/
Rumrunner: 3131 E. First St., Tucson. 520-326-0121. http://www.rumrunnertucson.com/
Tops Liquors: 403 W. University Drive, #104, Tempe. 480-967-5643. http://www.topsliquors.com/
Westbound: 2642 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson. 520-327-0452. http://westboundtucson.com/
Founded by the creators of Mezcalistas, a website dedicated to mezcal, Mexico in a Bottle offers the opportunity to learn about and sample many types of mezcal. The growing event makes its debut in Phoenix on Sept. 18, 2022. For more information, visit the group’s website at https://www.mezcalistas.com.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez.
Published
3:19 pm UTC Feb. 22, 2022
Updated
3:19 pm UTC Feb. 22, 2022
Comments are closed.