ROSS SIMON
Ross Simon was steeped in the culinary and hospitality service from youth, working at the family restaurant in the old country of his native home of Scotland since 1990. He has three decades of experience in the beverage industry and during such has had the pleasure of mixing it up with the biggest names and brands in the cocktail world.
Currently, Ross owns and operates two cocktail bars. The globally renowned and award-winning cocktail bar Bitter & Twisted (2014) and the recently opened Little Rituals (2019). He also owns and produces the annual cocktail event Arizona Cocktail Weekend, in the heart of downtown Phoenix. His newest project is Stabyl Beverage Co. developing delicious ingredients from the ground up that replicate fresh citrus in every way that current alternatives fall short.
““Always have direction with intention””
'Way ahead of the curve': How a star bartender from Scotland changed the way Phoenix drinks'
“As recently as a decade ago, opening a cocktail bar in Phoenix was a tough sell. Just ask Ross Simon, who tried to do just that starting in 2005, only to hear that the idea was too complicated.
The co-owner of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour and Little Rituals and co-founder of Arizona Cocktail Weekend didn't take no for an answer. He's considered by many to be a trailblazer of the local cocktail scene, which is now consistently recognized as among the best in the country and the world.”
"Ross was way ahead of the curve," said Kim Haasarud, owner of Garden Bar PHX and former national president of the United States Bartenders' Guild. "Ross was a part of reviving the cocktail scene and paving the way for the cocktail culture in Arizona. When he came here, he literally had no money. It takes some balls to want to open something that nobody understood and to have such perseverance."
🏆Awards & Accomplishments🏆
Bitter & Twisted 2 PIN “OUTSTANDING” The Pinnacle Guide
Little Rituals 1 PIN “EXCELLENT” The Pinnacle Guide
Top 4 “Best Hotel Bars in the US” 2023 Tales of the Cocktail®
Top 10 "World’s Best Cocktail Menu" 2023 Tales of the Cocktail®
Top 10 "Best Cocktail Bar in the US" 2023 Tales of the Cocktail®
"Best Cocktail Menu" Readers’ Choice: Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine 2023
"Best Cocktails" Readers’ Choice: Best of Phoenix 2023 Phoenix Newtimes
America's Top Whisky Bars 2023: Whisky Advocate
50 Best Bars: North America's 50 Best Bars 2022
Top 4 "Best U.S. Hotel Bar in the US" 2022 Tales of the Cocktail®
Top 10 "Best Cocktail Bar in the US" 2022 Tales of the Cocktail®
50 Best Discovery: TheWorlds50best.com (2021)
Yelp’s top 100 US restaurants 2022
Top 10 "World’s Best Cocktail Menu" Tales of the Cocktail® (2019/18/17)
Top 10 "Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar" Tales of the Cocktail® (2019/18/17/16)
"Best Beverage Program" Arizona Restaurant Association's Foodist Awards (2019)
"Best Cocktail Program" Arizona Restaurant Association's Foodist Awards (2019)
“Best New Cocktail Bars on the West Coast” Tales of the Cocktail (2019)
“Best New Cocktail Bar” Modern Luxury Scottsdale (2019)
“Best Hotel Bar” Phoenix Magazine (2019)
"Best Cocktails" Best of Phoenix Phoenix Newtimes (2018)
"Best Cocktails" Readers Choice: Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2018)
"Best Cocktail Bar" Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2018)
World Class Team Captain Global Finals: Mexico City (2017)
"Best Cocktails" Readers Choice: Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2017)
"Best Cocktail Bar: Downtown Phoenix" Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2017)
"Best Craft Cocktails" Arizona Foothills Magazine (2017)
"Best New School Cocktails" Reader Choice: Phoenix NewTimes (2016)
"Best Cocktails" Readers Choice: Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2016)
"The 40 Best Bars in America for Food Lovers" Food Network (2016)
Mixologist of the Year Inductee - AZ Culinary Hall of Fame - inductee (2016)
"Best Bars in America 2015" Liquour.com (2015)
"World’s Best Bars" WorldsBestBars.com (2015)
"Great Bourbon Bar of America" GreatBourbon.com (2015)
"Best New School Cocktails" Reader Choice: Phoenix NewTimes (2015)
"Best Cocktail Program" Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2015)
"Best Cocktails" Readers Choice: Best of the Valley Phoenix Magazine (2015)
“Ripe Award Winner” for the bartending and spirits industry (2015)
"Master Mixologist" Arizona Restaurant Association's Foodist Awards (2015)
"Good Neighbor" Arizona Restaurant Association's Foodist Awards (2015)
“Best Cocktail Bar” Arizona Republic (2014)
“Best Cocktail Menu” Phoenix Magazine (2014)
"Best Cocktail Event" Phoenix NewTimes (2014)
Don Julio Arizona Winner 2013
Gary Regan’s: “Fabulous Bar Innovator” of the Year (2011)
Finlandia Vodka Cup Global Finalist: Arctic Circle (2005)
US Winner Finlandia Cup (2005)