Valley's best cocktails

The Manhattan

The Place: Durant's, 2611 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-264-5967, durantsaz.com

At this venerable central Phoenix steak and martini destination, many would have you order a traditional vodka martini, dirty, and then prattle on about all the political power players sitting nearby. To get there, they would have ushered you in through the back doors, through the kitchen and lead you to one of the red leather tuck-and-roll booths. And you could trust these people, because they have your best interests at heart. But saying this is the best place for a martini is really just saying that Durant's makes drinks that let you know the bartender is boss, that he or she knows best. It's just saying that this place doesn't hide behind flair-tending histrionics and fancy mixers. It's saying this place makes drinks that are powerful, but comforting in their familiarity. But we're recommending the Manhattan for purely personal reasons. Drinking the smoky, rich, icy dark drink, garnished with just one cherry, feels right in a place with tuxedo-clad servers and red-flocked wallpaper. The flavors are bold and complex, and it's a drink to build memories over.

The Price: $10.95

The Magic: Bourbon, bitters and sweet vermouth, shaken, garnished with a cherry.