Tough Luck Club is ringing in its ninth anniversary on Sunday, December 31 — New Year’s Eve. For nearly a decade now, the rules at the basement bar have been simple to follow: Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, be nice to each other, and tip your bartenders.
On Sunday, December 31, the evening will feature the launch of a brand-new cocktail list created by the team and Karl Gorananowski, Beverage Director at Tough Luck Club. The party starts at 6 p.m. and there will be a complimentary sparkling wine toast at midnight.Â
“Be the first to taste the fate with our new menu. Or don’t,” said Goranowski. “Never a cover, always a good time.”
The menu will have 21 beverages, including eight original cocktails — each priced differently — and eight classic cocktails that are just $8 each. An additional five “Friends & Family Cocktails” will be on the menu, too, meaning that a portion of each drink sold goes to the local charities. They’ve previously donated to foundations such as El Grupo, Tucson Mutal Aid, and Sonoran Prevention Works.
The new physical menu features original artwork from local Tucson artist Bre Wall, who will also have work on display in the bar. Â
Keep scrolling to see a sneak peek of eight of Touch Luck Club’s original cocktails.
Tough Luck Club Original Cocktails
- Ugly But Honest ($12) – Strawberry gin, lime juice, ginger syrup, pomegranate liqueur, and sparkling water
- Emerald Flowsion ($12) – Tequila, Alpine floral brandy, melon liqueur, lime juice, and demerara
- My Precious Blood ($12) – American brandy, port wine, American aperitif, pear liqueur, and aromatic bitters
- Dreaming in Silence ($13) – Vodka, vanilla liqueur, lemon juice, orange juice, and Spirit of the Dragon
- Simulacrum ($14) – Tough Luck Club rum, lemon juice, passion fruit, Bar Area amaro, spiced punch, and tropical bitters
- Contract From Below ($12) – Bourbon whiskey, American apple brandy, bittered vermouth, marzipan liqueur, and cherry syrup
- Scorpion Twilight ($12) – London dry gin, dry sherry, rhubarb liqueur, red aperitif, and mole bitters
- More Dollars Than Sense ($14) – Bacanora, blanc ron, blue stuff, orgeat, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and citrus bitters
Tough Luck Club is located in the basement of Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink, 101 E. Pennington St. For more information, follow Tough Luck Club on Instagram.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
