July 24 is National Tequila Day, and there’s only one place you’ll find us in Scottsdale celebrating happy hour — Barrio Queen in Old Town. All tequila, mescals and sotols are half-off. You can also swipe a tequila flight for $10 and a margarita for $6.
Barrio Queen, head by renowned Chef Silvana Salcido Esperanza, just launched its Tequila Passport program at the end of June. The way it works is thus: For every tequila you try at Barrio Queen, you get a stamp in a Barrio Queen-provided passport (You know you’ll need help keeping track after a few!)
Not only does the restaurant serve some of the most delicious Mexican dishes in the Valley (with occasional French flairs) and makes its pomegranate and craisin guacamole table-side, but it also offers the largest selection of tequila in the Valley with which to wash it down.
Barrio Queen offers more than 400+ tequilas, mezcals, bacanora and sotols and a huge mix of blancos, reposados and anejos. It’s located at 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Suite 105. Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. (all day Tuesdays).
Here’s a margarita recipe we found in the back of our passport:
La Mula Mexicana
What you need:
2 oz. Don Julio Blanco
1 oz. lime juice
.75 oz. house ginger syrup (see below for recipe)
Topped off with Mexican Coca-Cola
To prepare:
Add all ingredients, except Coca-Cola, to shaker with ice. Shake and strain over cracked ice in highball or hurricane-style glass. Top off with 3 to 4 oz. of Coca-Cola. Garnish with lime.
To prepare ginger syrup:
.75 cup of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
Bring ingredients to a summer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Gently simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, then strain through a sieve and cool to room temperature.
