CHEERS

VIOLET AND VIBRANT

Wok ‘N Roll has a sweet and tart hit on its hands with Purple Haze

Wok ‘N Roll – Chinese, Sushi, Sports founder and CEO Scott Stuart’s passion for great Asian food is equaled only by his love of music. “As our name suggests, Wok ‘N Roll is the marriage of Scott’s two loves, a theme we carry onto our signature cocktail menu as well,” says Morgan Holder, bar manager of Wok ‘N Roll. “Each cocktail on our menu, in fact, is named in honor of a classic song.” All signature cocktails are also imbued with a floral aromatic and/or fresh fruit. For example, Billie Jean features lychee and strawberry, and Bohemian Rhapsody showcases blood orange and lemongrass. Among the most popular summer features is Purple Haze ($12), aptly named given its deep violet hue. The name is also pitch-perfect for August, the height of monsoon and haboob season and its resulting blurred vistas. “It starts with Tito’s Vodka, which we infuse over several days with ginger, hibiscus, fresh raspberries and cucumber,” Holder says. “Tito’s is a great base given it is a touch sweet but with a crisp minerality and clean finish. Its complexity naturally balances other flavor profiles with ease.” Once infused, the vodka is added to a shaker with ice, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit Syrup, lemon juice and sparkling water. “The passion fruit enhances the color and tropical notes while the lemon gives acidity, and the soda water adds effervescence,” Holder says. The contents are strained and poured into a coupe glass with a sugar-coated rim. The cocktail, which is equal parts sweet and sour with a cooling finish thanks to the cucumber, is garnished with a sprig of mint for an added pop of color and to open the senses for what is to come. Wok ‘N Roll, 4412 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale; 480.427.2526; www.woknrollaz. com.

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTO BY DEBBY WOLVOS