If you’ve ever driven down Camelback Road near Central Avenue, you’ve likely seen the twinkling lights of the rooftop cocktail bar, Don Woods’ Say When.
From atop the Rise Uptown Hotel, the bar beckons both hotel guests and locals to its cozy, wood and burgundy interior. The intimate booth seating and low light inside are perfect for escaping summer heat and the chill of winter nights.
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On mild autumn evenings, the sprawling patio is a great spot to enjoy views of Camelback Mountain or a cocktail under the stars. Time it right and you can enjoy both. Raise a glass as the range is illuminated by pink skies that fade into a sparking cityscape as the sun dips below the horizon.
With style, high quality cocktails and historic digs, Don Woods’ is an easy place to love. The hardest part of your visit might be choosing which drinks to try.
What’s up with the name?
The original Don Woods was a Phoenix real estate icon in the 1950s. His office occupied the penthouse suite of a mid-century modern midrise on Camelback Road that has since become the Rise Hotel.
Woods was known to enjoy a cocktail or two, his son told The Republic, and made a signature drink with frozen lemonade mix.
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Now, Don Woods’ legacy lives on through the cocktail bar, which opened in June after the rooftop was renovated. A neon sign, inspired by the original sign for the business, glows against the white walls of the hotel, directing people upstairs to the roof.
Cocktails by another Phoenix icon
Don Woods’ Say When is Ross Simon’s latest project. The highly-awarded cocktail expert is the force behind top Valley drink destinations including Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour and Little Rituals in downtown Phoenix.
His uptown rooftop bar complements Lylo Swim Club, the hotel’s poolside lounge and bar a few stories below. Simon crafted distinct cocktail menus to suit each location. Lylo offers fruity, tropical inspired drinks made with sorbet and refreshing spirits perfect for sipping by the pool.
Upstairs, Don Woods’ takes a decidedly different approach. The rooftop bar trades tropical vibes for a cozy lounge feel and guests swap flip flops for loafers for a more elevated night out. The sophisticated, classic cocktails suit the vibe.
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How to navigate the menu at Don Woods’ Say When
The menu at Don Woods’ is split into four sections. Each section includes five drinks and each drink is accompanied by a small illustration and a description, helpful in guiding customers to the right choice.
The first two sections celebrate highballs and spritzes, the bar’s signature cocktail styles, and includes the likes of The Sicilian spritz. Accompanied by a drawing of a pink cocktail garnished with orange slices, it is described as “dry, full bodied and silky on the palate,” while the yellow Alameda spritz is billed as “herbal garden, zesty, fresh, clean and crisp.”
The two lower sections of the menu, Remixes and Classics, offer cocktails that customers may be more familiar with. The Old Fashioned is a reliable option that would be perfect for sipping inside one of the plush burgundy leather booths. The cognac and orange liqueur Sidecar earns a worthy description of “if it’s not broke…”
Don Woods’ also serves a small wine menu and a mix of local and international beers.
Hungry customers will find a small, eclectic food menu with options including a shareable cheese board, marinated anchovies served on crunchy toasted bread slices and bread pudding for dessert.
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Why you should order the Ghost of Mamie Taylor
On a recent visit, I emerged from the dramatically slow elevator onto the roof and was led to a small table on the patio. Tables for two make the most of the small space, but are admittedly hard to squeeze into. Be prepared to get cozy with your neighbors. The lounge chairs and couches on the other end of the roof are better suited for conversation.
That day, the sun still lingered in the sky and the temperatures had yet to drop, so I decided to start with a spritz.
The Espana is made with Lustau Vermut Blanco, a Spanish white vermouth, herbal green chartreuse, lime, pineapple, celery bitters, salt drops and prosecco. The yellow-hued drink arrived garnished with a few slices of lemon rind and adorable, almost impossibly tiny, purple and white flowers. (As I got to the bottom of the drink, I had to take the flowers out as they tickled my nose.)
At first sip, the cocktail tasted floral with herbal notes of the green chartreuse shining through. As I got deeper into the drink, the savory elements of the salt drops and dry prosecco took over. The drink is fizzy, not overly sweet, and refreshing. It was perfect for a warm evening.
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As the sun disappeared and the temperature dipped, I turned to the highball section to find a drink better suited for autumn. I was immediately intrigued by The Ghost of Mamie Taylor.
Modeled after the traditional Mamie Taylor cocktail, which is made with a mix of Scotch, ginger beer and lime, this drink pushes the boundaries of tradition, as do most of Ross Simon’s cocktails.
In this case, The Ghost of Mamie Taylor is made with Harleston Green Blended Scotch, Laphroaig Scotch, St. George spiced pear, yuzu citrus and ginger ale.
Laphroaig Scotch is known for its unique, smoky taste and here it adds depth to the cocktail and provides a nice contrast to the bitter citrus flavor of yuzu. Despite the fruit, this cocktail isn’t sweet at all, but instead celebrates the true flavors of fresh pear and ginger. The orange rind garnish adds a scent of citrus to each sip and the refreshing fizz kept me coming back for more.
Served as a highball, the boozy flavors aren’t very condensed. They’re subtle, and become moreso as they mix with ice and ginger ale to make for a longer drink that’s easy to linger over.
Pear, ginger and smoke served in a refreshing and cool format make the Ghost of Mamie Taylor a perfect cocktail for Phoenix autumn, when we’re eager for the flavors of fall, but the temperatures refuse to quit. And it, like everything at Don Woods’, feels like a celebration of the past that’s also helping push the Phoenix cocktail scene into the future.
Details: Don Woods’ Say When at the Rise Uptown Hotel, 400 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 480-536-8998, saywhenphx.com.
Reservations are required for groups of five or larger.
Cocktails range from $12 to $14. Food ranges from $8 to $21.
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Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose.
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Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHEN
