You’ll feel like you dropped into the wild west when sipping on these liquors from Canyon Diablo. They have a Prickly Pear Flavored Vodka, a traditional gin, and their Two Ghosts Chili Vodka (which is fantastic in a bloody mary). Distillery tours are not currently conducted but keep an eye out and enjoy these local beverages here in the west!
Caskwerks takes pride in its human backbone and grit that manufactures the spirits coming out of Tempe. While the product line is short, you can start to get your drink on with them by tasting their gin, and apple pie liqueur with a wheat whiskey in the works (werks?) and seasonal concoctions slated for the future.
You can’t live in Arizona without having a pool and in the summer heat there’s nothing better than cooling off with a dip and vodka-based drink in hand. Sonoran highlights their AZ48 which is their “resort vodka” and made for the bikini-wearing locals and visitors alike.
This is a distillery for those Cuba Libre, Mojito, and Bahama Mamas out there as they are rocking out rums to cover the spectrum. There’s Dark Rum, Barrel Reserve Rum, and Agave Rum. Bring your sweet tooth for this one and enjoy!
Arizona Distilling Co. is tackling the best trends of the liquor world in a big way. Check out their Wheat Whiskey and compare it to the Rye Whiskey, Malt Whiskey, and Copper City Bourbon in a flight of dark spirits. After that, try Commerce Gin which utilizes cumin and cinnamon among other creative ingredients sourced locally.
No frills at this distillery and you’ll need to call to schedule a tour but they’re nonetheless very happy to oblige. Check out their “Build-A-Gin” class which teaches you all about what gin is and then assists in adding flavorful ingredients to build an ideal and personalized gin for you.
Recognized as the Arizona Distillery of the Year for 2016, 2017, and 2018 Elgin Distillery isn’t messing around when liquor is involved. They have an award-winning bourbon, artisanal rums, and brandy. Check out the distillery and its tasting room in Elgin.
You may notice the lack of age on their whiskeys and let that deter you in favor of older whiskeys. Slow down, though, as the real process to creating great whiskey is in regards to the wood surface to liquid ratio, where that’s higher is where less time is required. Sure, the purist may contend the process in respect to tradition but many of Thumb Butte’s processes are, indeed, in reference to the old ways. Find out for yourself.
Check out The Independent Distillery which uses local ingredients to craft whiskey, rum, vodka, gin, and absinthe. While the spirits are up there with the best of them, you’ll also find a lot of enjoyment in visiting during one of many special events that take place here, such as their Halloween celebration, New Year’s, and live music throughout the year.
Scotch lovers know that the delicious smoky flavor associated with the Scottish liquor is peat; specifically, the process of burning peat so that the smoky flavors impede the spirit. Hamilton Distillery loves scotch but loves the American Southwest. What smoke-infused flavor might best represent the American Southwest? Enter: Mesquite Smoked Whiskey.
