We Experienced the Royal Room’s New Cocktail Menu Firsthand

After just over a year in business, the Royal Room obtained a liquor license and launched its full bar with a craft cocktail program.

Leading the updated bar is Jon Holcombe, who has worked in the bars of Penca, Owls Club, Scott & Co., Tough Luck Club, OBON Sushi Bar Ramen, and more.

With such a strong background in some of Tucson’s top craft cocktail bars, the Royal Room’s new program hit the floor running with a balanced menu of original and classic cocktails with painstakingly laborious house-made components.

The Royal Room House Cocktails

• Monarch – white rum, vermouth bianco, white wine reduction, citric acid
• Kingslayer – rye whiskey, rancio sec, Bénédictine, Curaçao, orange bitters
• Mi Rey – strawberry mezcal, Rabarbaro, aperitivo, lemon juice
• Noble Intentions – gin, blueberry amaro, black lime syrup, lime juice
• Royale – jasmine pisco, cassis, lime juice, sugar, egg white
• Crimson Court – apple brandy, sloe gin, jamaica, lemon juice, herbal liqueur rinse
• Baroness – vodka, ancho chile, peach, lime juice
• Coup D’État – brown buttered rum, cinnamon coconut cream, pineapple

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp0dRJZB8It/

The Royal Room Classic Cocktails

• Japanese Cocktail – brandy, house-made orgeat, bitters
• Toronto – Canadian whiskey, Fernet, sugar, bitters
• El Presidente – rum, dry vermouth, grenadine, Curaçao
• Hurricane – rum, passion fruit, lemon juice
• Margarita – tequila, Curaçao, lime juice
• Lion’s Tail – bourbon, allspice dram, lime juice, bitters
• Sherry Cobbler – sherry, lemon juice, berries
• Floradora – gin, raspberry, ginger, lime

Neighboring tattoo artist Jake Lehmann illustrated the hip cocktail menu. The original house cocktails are all $10. Classic cocktails from the menu are $8 and $2 off during happy hour, which is 4 – 7 p.m. daily.

While the whole menu is solid, there were two favorites.

Mi Rey balances smoky mezcal with the tartness of rhubarb and lemon, the sweetness of strawberry, and the light bitterness of the aperitivo.

A spin on the piña colada, the Coup D’État steps it up with nutty brown buttered rum and cinnamon coconut cream. The crispy dehydrated pineapple chip is a pleasant snack.

If you just want cheap booze, the $3 Alley Cat Special includes a domestic beer with a shot of whiskey. For a little somethin’ somethin’, add CBD to any drink for $3.

Operating hours are 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. daily.

The Royal Room is located at 450 N. Sixth Ave. Keep up with the Royal Room on Instagram.