Santa Fe Sip by Sip: Insider Guide to the City's Best Craft Cocktails
Santa Fe's rich artistic heritage earned it UNESCO Creative City status, but creativity extends beyond canvas to mixology. Talented bartenders craft masterpieces in glasses. Discover these insider tips for the City Different's top cocktails.
I’ve Got a Secreto
Smile knowing the secreto.
Margaritas pair perfectly with Santa Fe's laid-back vibe, but top mixologists add unique twists. Chris Milligan at Secreto Lounge in Hotel St. Francis drew inspiration from local sagebrush for his Smoked Sage Margarita: Reposado Añejo Tequila, orange-infused Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and smoked sage, rimmed with hickory salt. Locals voted it Best Cocktails in the 2013 Santa Fe Reporter's Best of Santa Fe.
Lovin’ Life at Loretto
The infuser elevates this smoky cocktail.
The Inn of the Loretto (a Travel + Leisure World's Best) honors Sister George, a cigar-loving nun from the Loretto order, with the Smokin’ Nun: Knob Creek rye, muddled orange, brandied cherries, Grand Marnier, orange bitters, infused with smoker light. Perfect for unwinding.
A Recipe for Lingering at La Posada
Nason’s Fancy turns heads.
At La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa's Staab House lounge, Nason’s Fancy reimagines the margarita: Patrón Silver, charred chile agave, orange bitters, fresh lime juice, rimmed with smoked sea salt. Savor it slowly—more than one might summon spirits!
Anasazi’s Rock (Salt) Art
Loralee’s Defiance shines.
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi bar manager challenged staff to innovate, yielding Loralee’s Defiance: Taos Lightning single-barrel rye whiskey, Salerno blood orange liqueur, BBQ bitters, fresh lemon juice—in an elegant martini glass. Local ingredients make it exceptional.
Spirits Lift at Santa Fe Spirits
Head to Santa Fe Spirits for craft excellence.
This downtown craft distillery offers malt whiskies, apple brandy, vodka, and gin. Try Wheeler’s gin and tonic or Fresa Fresca: gin, muddled strawberries and basil, honey simple syrup, lemon and lime juice—refreshingly divine.
Sipping Signature Santa Fe
After exploring Santa Fe, unwind with friends over inventive cocktails capturing our stunning sunsets in a glass. Cheers to the City Different!
