Set against the stunning backdrop of Desert Botanical Garden, Bottles & Bites with SanTan Distilling is a bourbon experience rooted in place, flavor and connection.
Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the Jan. 28 event here.
We sat down with the team behind the pours to talk about what makes this event unique, from desert-driven distilling to playful cocktails and Southwest-inspired bites.
Here is a closer look at how good spirits, great food and a relaxed, wander-worthy setting come together for one unforgettable evening.
Q: What makes Bottles & Bites stand out to you?
A: Bottles & Bites is all about place. Hosting a bourbon dinner inside Desert Botanical Garden puts the desert front and center, which is exactly where our bourbon comes from in the first place. The setting is stunning, but the vibe is intentionally relaxed. This is not a white-tablecloth, sit-still-and-be-quiet kind of tasting.
We want guests to wander, take in the surroundings and experience how the desert climate shapes the way we distill and age our bourbon. It is about learning, sipping and being present. Good drinks, delicious food and good company.
Q: What kinds of spirits or beverages will be featured?
A: Guests will experience our Botanical Gardens Bourbon and Sacred Stave Bourbon through a lineup of cocktails that feel playful, unexpected and easy to enjoy.
Bourbon-Rita, Cola Me Old Fashioned and Tropical Waltz featuring our Botanical Gardens Bourbon and CaraMellow in the Coconut featuring our Sacred Stave Bourbon.
Q: How do the food pairings play into the experience?
A: The food is built around movement and connection. Instead of a seated, coursed dinner, pairings are set up in stations to encourage guests to explore, mingle and talk. That flow mirrors how we experience food and drink at SanTan every day.
Our menu pulls from Southwest-inspired flavors, designed to complement the bourbon without overpowering it. Paired with cocktails curated by our very own, Natasha Hill, the experience becomes a shared journey. Different flavors, different conversations, all coming together around great food, thoughtfully made spirits and the simple joy of being together.
