Sniff This, Sip That Vol. 2: Durant’s Black Walnut Old Fashioned + Lattafa Khamrah Qahwa

Krista Carpenter-Beasley
Jan 18
5 min read

Updated: Jan 19

A Phoenix time capsule, a black walnut Old Fashioned, and the scent that feels like a velvet booth

There are places in Phoenix that don’t just exist, they belong. They hold history in the walls and confidence in the lighting.

Durant’s is one of them.

Durant’s isn’t just a steakhouse, it’s a Phoenix institution that knows exactly who it is. The second you walk in, the lighting drops, the energy shifts, and the room starts telling its story before you ever open the menu.

And then there’s the entrance. You come in through the kitchen like you’ve been waved into a private club, which somehow makes the whole night feel a little more cinematic. Vintage swagger, deep booths, old-school glamour, and that sense that you should order something classic, sit up straight, and let the evening take its time.

The waitstaff is part of the magic. Polished, warm, and dialed in. The kind of service that makes you want to linger, add a second round, and say yes to dessert even when you swore you wouldn’t.

If you’re doing it right, you start with the Walnut Old Fashioned to set the tone. Then you commit. A tomahawk. Lobster Thermidor. Maybe a few bottles of Pinot Noir. Friends you call family. Suddenly it’s not dinner. It’s a scene you’ll be talking about for weeks.

Durant’s is that rare place that turns a night out into a memory, without trying too hard. It’s effortless. It’s iconic. And it still feels like a secret, even when everyone knows.

Which is exactly why pairing Durant’s Walnut Old Fashioned with Lattafa Khamrah Qahwa works so well.

Because Lattafa Khamrah Qahwa is the fragrance equivalent of a perfect Old Fashioned: boozy warmth, dark sweetness, spice, and a little danger in the best way.

The scent that belongs in a velvet booth

Lattafa Khamrah Qahwa

Khamrah Qahwa is one of those fragrances that shows up with presence. It’s unisex, bold, and wrapped in warmth. Boozy without being sharp. Spiced without being loud. Sweet in a way that feels grown, not candy. The kind of scent that doesn’t just sit on your skin, it sets a mood.

This was one of my first purchases, and it’s still one of my favorites when the nights cool down and the air starts asking for something deeper. It’s also one of my favorite bed scents. I can’t fully explain why, it just feels like comfort with edge. Like slipping into something soft and expensive. Like the last sip of a drink you didn’t want to end.

It pairs so perfectly with Durant’s because it shares the same energy. Vintage with a twist. Classic, but not predictable. Warm, confident, and a little bit sexy in the low light.

The pairing: The Walnut Old Fashioned at Durant’s

If Khamrah Qahwa is the velvet booth, the Black Walnut Old Fashioned is the clink of the glassware that tells you the night is officially underway.

It’s classic, spirit-forward, and confident, but the walnut twist gives it that extra layer of depth. It’s familiar, but not boring. Traditional, but still flirty.

Theirs (Durant’s):

Basil Hayden Bourbon
Demerara Brown Sugar
Walnut Bitters
Luxardo Cherry

Mine (Home Sip Session):

Hancock Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Coconut Sugar Syrup
Black Walnut Bitters
Luxardo Cherry (always)

And yes, bonus points if you put Ella on vinyl when you make your home version. That’s not a suggestion, that’s an instruction.

Why it works

An Old Fashioned done right is all about balance: warmth, sweetness, bitterness, and that slow-blooming depth that builds as the ice melts.

Khamrah Qahwa plays the exact same game.

Both give you:

Boozy warmth that feels grown and grounded
Dark sweetness that isn’t sugary or loud
Spice + depth that reads sensual, not sharp
A lingering finish that makes you want one more minute, one more sip, one more inhale

This pairing is confident. Cozy. A little indulgent. And completely unapologetic about it.

Wear this, order that

This pairing is made for nights when you want to feel like the main character, the kind where you dress with intention, the room is dim, the service is impeccable, and dinner turns into a scene.

Wear it for

a date night that feels like a movie
a celebration dinner with a little drama (the good kind)
a “friends you call family” night that runs long
any evening where you want to smell warm, magnetic, and memorable

Spray Lattafa Khamrah Qahwa, step into Durant’s through the kitchen, and let the night do what it does.

Order This (If you’re doing it right)

Throw in:

a Black Walnut Old Fashioned to set the tone
a Tomahawk for that classic, steakhouse swagger
Lobster Thermidor because indulgence is the point
maybe a few bottles of Pinot Noir to keep it silky and celebratory
and friends you call family, the kind who make the table feel like home

…and suddenly it’s not dinner, it’s an evening with a story.

Make it at home: My Black Walnut Old Fashioned riff (the way I actually make it)

This is the home version for when you want to keep the mood going; lights low, Ella on vinyl, one last pour that tastes like you meant it.

Ingredients

2 oz Hancock Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
1/4 oz coconut sugar syrup (or 1 barspoon at a time if you like it drier)
2–3 dashes black walnut bitters
1 Luxardo cherry
Optional: expressed orange peel (if you want a brighter lift)

Method

Add bourbon, syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until very cold and silky, about 25–35 seconds.
Strain over a large cube in a rocks glass.
Garnish with a Luxardo cherry (always).
Put Ella on. Sip slowly. Repeat as needed.

Quick coconut sugar syrup

Equal parts coconut sugar + hot water. Start with 1/2 cup coconut sugar + 1/2 cup hot water, stir until dissolved, cool, refrigerate.

Little note from me

Coconut sugar doesn’t make it tropical, it makes it rounder. A little deeper. A little softer. A little sexier. Which is exactly why it pairs so beautifully with black walnut bitters… and with Khamrah Qahwa on skin.

The Bourbon I Used: Hancock Reserve Single Barrel

For my home sip session, I used Hancock’s Reserve Single Barrel because it drinks smooth and confident without needing a lot of fuss. It has that classic bourbon warmth that plays beautifully with black walnut bitters, and a little bit of a higher Rye flavor, making it rich enough to stand up to the darker, cozy vibe of this pairing.

It’s the kind of bottle that makes an Old Fashioned feel polished instead of sugary. Clean, warming, and easy to sip, which is exactly what you want when the fragrance you’re wearing is already bringing the spice and late-night energy.

The vibe recap

Spray

Lattafa Khamrah

Qahwa

Boozy warmth, spicy depth, cozy-sexy energy, cooler-night perfection

Sip

Black Walnut Old Fashioned

Classic structure with dark, nutty richness

Setting

Durant’s

Kitchen entrance magic, vintage supper-club swagger, elite service, a room that makes you dress up without asking

A quick note, because scent is personal

Just like cocktails, fragrance is personal. What reads “warm and sexy” on me might read totally different on you, and that’s part of the fun.

Try it on skin. Let it settle. Let it surprise you.

Also: if you’re a gourmand lover and you want something that feels boozy, cozy, and grown, Khamrah Qahwa is one of those bottles that earns its spot.