Catching the Wave of Flavored Tequilas

Popcorn-infused Milagro Reposado tequila, Cointreau, togarashi, pandan and lime juice; served with togarashi-seasoned popcorn

Photo Credit: Grace Stufkosky

Popcorn-Infused Margarita

Platform 18 at Century Grand | Phoenix

Photo Credit: Tara Lund

Jason Asher

“Who doesn’t love a spicy margarita?” poses Jason Asher, co-founder and VP of beverage at Platform 18, a bar concept from Century Grand that celebrates the mystique of New York during Prohibition. “Our version brings extra flair and layers of flavors that guests would never expect from a drink they think they know well,” he notes, describing the 54th Street Club cocktail which features a housemade togarashi spice blend paired with butter popcorn-infused tequila. “You’ll taste flavors of a familiar spicy margarita but with a Platform 18 twist,” says Asher, pointing also to a hint of cereal milk in the flavor notes, courtesy of the house pandan tincture. “Served with a bag of togarashi-seasoned popcorn, this drink not only transports you to New York City, but brings the flavors reminiscent of those you find in a theater.”

The drink consistently performs in the top five each week, he reports. “We crafted all the components of this cocktail with meticulous detail, even serving it in the iconic blue-and-white New York to-go coffee cup,” says Asher. “Details like this create such a contagious sense of excitement. It’s one of our favorite things to do.”

Read more Best of Flavor 2024