Arizona Cocktail Week 2016: Day One, Cocktailgating and Seminars
Cocktailgating with AZ Bitters Lab (All photos by Debby Wolvos Photography)
On Saturday, February 13th, the fifth annual Arizona Cocktail Week kicked off with seminars and activities at the Hotel Valley Ho. This is one of my favorite Arizona events and I've never missed a year. Events throughout the week include a Cocktail Carnival, educational seminars, Top Bars event, Bartender Swap, Cocktailgating, Last Slinger Standing competition, Storytellers Dinner, the Artisanal Market, and Imbibe 'n Dine dinners at various restaurants throughout the Valley. Visit my Events page for a schedule of upcoming activities.
The day started off with Bellinis, Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and a Cartel Coffee Bar. New this year was an expanded "Cocktailgating" area in the afternoon with food trucks (I loved the duck fat fries at Frites Street!), spirit tastings, cocktails, beer, the Jack Daniels' mobile museum, cocktail trucks, games, and more.
With Joe Intiso, Jr. and Luke Detraz of Southern Wine and Spirits
Some of Saturday's seminars featured Beer Cocktails 2.0, a Honey Varietal and Spirit Tasting, The Herbalist: A Sensory Experience, and Agave Confidential, an in-depth exploration into agave spirits:
It was a perfect day to cocktailgate!
I didn't make it this year, but for those wanting to continue the celebration, that night the always-popular Cocktail Carnival would set up around the Hotel Valley Ho Pool "with over 25 different tables and booths including some “Secret Suites” with attractions and performers galore." Afterwards, the official after-party celebrated agave spirits. Agave Alley promised to be "an Agave-fueled bowling extravaganza" and invited guests to "Come and sample over a dozen of some of Mexico’s finest agave spirits while bowling! Transportation will be provided from the Hotel Valley Ho to Bowlmor Lanes in Scottsdale, courtesy of Tequila Don Julio." The event was sponsored by Tequila Arrette, Azunia, Clase Azul, Del Maguey, El Silencio Mezcal, Tequila Don Fulano, Tequila Don Julio, Dulce Vida, Fortaleza, Herradura, Kimosabe, L & J Tequila, Tequila Ocho, Patron, Tanteo, and Wahaka Mezcal.
Visit these links for my recaps of other Arizona Cocktail Week 2016 events:
Day Two
Day Three: Artisanal Market
Day Three: Day of the Rabbit at Counter Intuitive
Day Three: Last Slinger Standing
Day Four: Imbibe 'n Dine Dinner at Lon's at The Hermosa Inn
Day Four: Jade Bar Reunion
AZCW 2016: Buchanan's Whisky Golf Cart Pub Crawl