One of Tucson’s premier mixologists, Aaron DeFeo, will soon move to Phoenix to open cocktail bar Little Rituals with fellow talent Ross Simon of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour.
“I’ll be leaving the casino after [December 30],” DeFeo said, “though I’ll still have my duties as president of USBG until a transition can be established by our council, so probably through February at least.”
As both the president of the United States Bartender’s Guild and property mixologist of Casino Del Sol Resort, DeFeo has also won countless mixology and bartending awards.
“It’s been my lifelong dream to open my own space, and I was so excited by this opportunity that I’m leaving Tucson to relocate to downtown Phoenix,” DeFeo said in a press release.
Little Rituals will be located on the fourth floor of the new Residence Inn/Courtyard Phoenix at 132 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004, scheduled for a mid-2018 opening. Guests can expect a refined lounge setting with intimate lighting and sweeping city vistas. DeFeo and team will serve up a globe-spanning menu of both classically-inspired cocktail alongside cutting-edge progressive cocktails. Chef-driven bar bites designed to complement the drinks will also be offered.
While we’ll miss DeFeo in Tucson, we’re confident his new venture will easily be one of the best places to drink in Arizona.
The Casino Del Sol Resort is located at 5655 W. Valencia Rd. For more information, call (855) 765-7829 or visit casinodelsol.com.
Keep up with Little Rituals on Facebook.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
