Desert nights: in the valley of the sun, the fun happens in the dark. A report from Phoenix

Cheers, June, 2004 by Anne Watson

Phoenix's new migrants are shedding their taste for beers and shots and seeking out more mature, sophisticated beverages when they are in the mood for some nightlife.

They want Vodka Martinis. Or a Martini with anything fruity. And anything that comes in a really, really large glass.

In the last 20 years, Phoenix's population has exploded with the arrival of West Coasters fleeing the high cost of living and housing. They are often young professionals, many of them refugees from the dot-com world with money and a taste for the trendy drinks they tasted on both Coasts.

They are joined by the young and struggling from the Rust Belt who seek plentiful jobs and sunshine. Finally, the tourists, retirees and snowbirds come from around the world, bringing money and a willingness to try something new on vacation.

The more leading, cutting edge bars/lounges that cater to the older, affluent crowd are located in Scottsdale, an upper-class northeastern suburb.

MARTINIS, EVERY WAY

These are sleek, well-designed facilities meant to attract 30-45 year-old professionals. The look is defined by lots of glass, subtle lighting and gleaming metal. The music: jazz/world mixes. The biggest drink: Martinis in every form, usually flavored.

The Merc Bar is typical. No sign, just a tiny plaque out front alerting upwardly mobile customers who drink Martinis and wine while nibbling on cured meats and cheese board appetizers.

What do they drink? "Whatever is hot at the time; sweeter Martinis, usually vodkabased," said Carson Quinn, assistant manager.

Also popular at the Merc Bar is the Mojito, but the sweetest favorite is the Vacation Martini (Bacardi Vanila, Midori, pineapple juice and sour mix) and the Carson City (made with Absolut Citron, amaretto, sour mix and orange juice).

A lounge that attracts more local celebrities is 6, cited by InStyle and Esquire magazines as the local place to be seen. Fairly new on the scene is The Crown Room, where drinks come in larger sizes--either 15-ounce or 18-ounce glasses. Popular choices on the menu include the Pomegranate Martini, Thin Mint Cocktail and Ridge 3 Valley Zinfandel.

YOUNG AND LOUD

While these lounges seek to emulate trends on the Coasts, the Pussy Cat Lounge flaunts a cheesy Las Vegas ambiance, with dancing poles for customers to entertain themselves.

The Pussy Cat Lounge is part of the Scottsdale club scene that seeks young and monied customers. Many of these are restaurant/bar/lounge combos which can evade licensing, neighborhood and regulatory hassles associated with bars that serve only alcohol.

Some of the other establishments in Scottsdale that cater to the younger crowd and exploit the Martini theme are AZ88, the Martini Ranch, Sugar Daddy's and the Devil's Martini. The latter serves Sex and the City, made with Absolut Mandarin, Amaretto Disarrono, peach schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice; and the Soprano, with Campari, triple sec, Absolut Mandrin and a shake of OJ. Other selections: The Turner, which is Stoli Razberi with triple sec and lemon juice, or the Kaiser Soze, shaken with Stoli Vanil, Kahlua, Baileys, milk and Goldschlager.

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The young crowd can be split up into two groups. One just wants the old, reliable bar on the corner strip mall. The other is, "The group who likes the bar/club where there's a dance crowd and scantily clad women running around," said Eddie Shoebang, who covers the bar/club scene for the College Times, a local lifestyle publication.

The dance clubs attract the crowds that seek out sports and entertainment celebrities, so many of the clubs lure Arizona Cardinals football players and hip-hop stars on tour. "You want to be seen at a place that you can say you were there," Shoebang said.

The drink of the moment at some of the bigger night-clubs (6, NeXt, Sanctuary and Axis/Radius) is Red Bull mixed with vodka in a variety of forms. Another variation for the Atkins diet crowd: the low-sugar Red Bull, combined with a low-carb vodka.

Axis/Radius has been promoting Red Bull Vodka LiquidX drinks heavily on Friday nights. NeXt, a combination bar, restaurant and dance club, sells Shock and Awe cocktails (Red Bull added to a Long Island Iced Tea recipe) for $9, and Finlandia/Red Bull mixes for $4. For premium beer-lovers, NeXt sells Ace Pear Cider, Fat Tire (a favorite in Phoenix) and Widmer Hefeweizen.

WINE BARS

The Kazimierz World Wine Bar is one of the survivors of the wine-and-cigar-bar craze. Kazimierz is filled with over-stuffed upholstery, lit candles and glass decor. The bar's menu includes more than 800 bottles of wine and dozens of themed flight selections. Each flight has three, 3-ounce wine samples.

Manager Michael Burt changes the flight selection every four to six weeks to keep customers coming back to try the latest vintages. One wine that has been popular is Guntrum Scheurebe, a German white which is "very versatile and goes with a lot of foods," Burt said. The bright red bottle also helps the wine stand out in customers' memories.

Three-quarters of Kazimierz's sales are wine-based but Burt reports his cocktail-loving customers order Sorbet Martinis and Hangar One Vodka Martinis. A few ask for specialty whiskeys and gin, like Anchor Distillery's Junipero Gin. Kazimierz has served Lindemans Framboise beer, a Belgium raspberry-flavored beer, on draft since it opened three years ago.