Nothing makes a night outshine like a well-crafted cocktail enjoyed in an inspiring atmosphere. Knowing where to find just that place is handy information to have for a hot date, or if you happen to be in town for a night or two and want to make the most of your time.
If you’re on the hunt for the most exquisite, best cocktails in Phoenix, 36 Below is without a doubt the place to tag on your map. Venturing down its steps is an escape from the street-level hustle into a world that is unto its own.
Here is a sampling of what awaits you there.
The Atmosphere
Like a sanctuary in the hot barren desert, 36 Below is an underground oasis from the hot grey concrete world above. With its design inspired by the Walapini greenhouse. You will find understated elegance at every turn.
Private nooks and intimate settings can be discovered all around you, along with the most extraordinary cocktail menu. Just take a look at some of the offerings.
The Cocktails
If you have any doubts that these are the best cocktails in Phoenix, take a gander at their cocktail menu. Each one is a transformative experience, handcrafted by deftly accomplished artisans.
Gate To Eden
Being that 36 Below is like a portal into cocktail heaven, it’s only fitting that the list begins with the Gateway To Eden. It’s light, refreshing, familiar, and yet surprising at the same time. Airy citrus notes are set off with a slight tartness that all come together with premium rye to dazzle your tastebuds.
Ingredients
- Rittenhouse Rye
- Rhubarb Amaro
- Pineapple Amaro
- Orgeat Grapefruit
- Lemon
Coco Arcadian
To call this anything but other-worldly would do it an injustice. It is a finely crafted, tropically-inspired drink that’s served under a glass bell jar and enveloped in a cinnamon-fermented turmeric vapor.
It is unlike anything on any other Phoenix cocktail menu and a perfect example of the transformative atmosphere at 36 Below.
Ingredients
- Rum
- Coconut cream
- Pineapple
- Velvet Falernum
- Lime
- Cinnamon-fermented turmeric air
Castle in the Sky
Tequila and the Southwestern U.S. go hand-in-hand. 36 Below offers up this refreshing citrus mixture as an homage to the culture of the region. The smoky texture of Mezcal merges with the refreshing bite of citrus and the sweet fragrance of rose in a perfect balance.
Ingredients
- Naran Mezcal
- Ramazotti Aparitivo
- Rose
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Aquafaba
Roku Nomu
Sweet but not heavy and with a hint of coastal-African flair, this concoction gives off an air of breezy liveliness reminiscent of the french riviera. Fine Roku Gin mixes with plum and herb essences and is set off with sweet coconut for a truly unique profile.
Ingredients
- Roku Gin
- Plum Verjus
- Coconut
- Mediterranean Tonic
The Genesis
A glorious blend of sweet and tart gives this cocktail a satisfying finish with every sip. Fig and peach come together with tangy citrus and woody matcha for something not found in a common cocktail bar.
Ingredients
- Figenza fig-infuzed Vodka
- Lychee
- Peach
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Matcha
Utopia
Fire, sugar, and whiskey. No wonder this drink is named Utopia. This is a cocktail that is somewhere between a fireside chat in a forest cabin with friends and glamping under the desert stars. Fire drives its heart, sweetness bares its soul.
Ingredients
- Bourbon
- Toasted marshmallows
- Cinnamon bitters
- Smoked oak
Garden of Gypsies
Sipping on this cocktail is like digging your hands into rich dark garden soil after a spring rain. It is loamy and sturdy and reminiscent of a deep breath of mountain air on a winding path to the peak. The celery root and lemon give it just enough lift not to feel leaden down with its earthy nature.
Ingredients
- Butterfly Pea infused Tanqueray Gin
- Genepy mushroom reduction
- Jicama
- Celery root
- lemon
Purity & Grace
Reminiscent of old-timey cocktails yet unlike anything seen before, this offering is bold and unapologetic. Born between a Sazerac and a Mexican knife fight, and not one to be taken lightly. The best choice for those who like to feel the weight of their decisions.
Ingredients
- Lunazul Anejo Tequila
- El Silencio Mezcal
- Sweet vermouth
- Agave orange & rhubarb bitters
Seed of Innocence
This is not a cocktail to pair with dessert. It is a desert. Wrapped in childhood nostalgia, and almost thick enough to eat with a sundae spoon, The lovely sweetness of the horchata vodka and Oreo cookie will send you reeling most satisfyingly. Leave room after dinner. You won’t be sorry.
Ingredients
- Horchata vodka
- Liquor 43
- Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur
- Oat milk
- Oreo cookie soil
Straightedge Spritz (non-alcoholic)
Thick and luscious and full of tropical flavors, this non-alcoholic cocktail is a great sipper for those in the mood for something tropical and beachy with a hint of fizz to keep it light.
Ingredients
- Lyres N/A bitter orange liqueur
- Guava puree
- Pineapple
- yuzu/lime soda
Pink Lady (non-alcoholic)
Putting together N/A cocktails that feel upscale and urbane without being bland is a complicated challenge. The Pink Lady pays a refined and revitalized homage to the classic Cosmopolitan. Innovation, not imitation, defines this fantastic, classy recipe.
Ingredients
- Lyres pure cane N/A spirit
- Raspberry puree
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Rose sugar
The Grove (non-alcoholic)
Sweetness and creamy vanilla notes collide with spicy ginger, tart lemon, and fresh mint. Hard to define but easy to drink, this N/A cocktail reaches for exotica from around the globe to achieve a flavor communion. In clumsier hands, this could be a disaster. Thankfully, the mixology experts at 36 Below pull it off with seemingly effortless panache.
Ingredients
- Seedlip “Grove” N/A spirit
- PIneapple
- Peach
- Vanilla
- Ginger
- Lemon
- Mint
Prepare Yourself for the Best Cocktails in Phoenix
Elegance, discovery, and fine craftsmanship is the hallmark of 36 Below. If you appreciate artful cocktails and an inspiring atmosphere, you will find it here, at the best cocktail bar in Phoenix.
You’ve seen the cocktail menu, now go find it for yourself. It will be an experience to remember.