Learning to Love Mezcal

Mezcal is a rich, smoky, pungent liquor. Similar to Tequila, but smoked – to me it tastes like to Scotch. Both tequila and mezcal are made from the Agave plant, but the process for making each is a little bit different, resulting in much different flavors.

I never liked mezcal very much, but Donald LOVES mezcal. Especially mixed with fun, flavorful ingredients like rhubarb, ginger, jalapeno, hibiscus, pomegranate, mango puree, grapefruit shrub… you get the idea.  We regularly encounter these flashy mezcal-laden concoctions at the uber-hipstery bars along our travels.

After Donald saw my millionth puckery-yucky face after trying his mezcal drink, he took it upon himself to find a mezcal drink that I actually liked – and he did it!

Donald invented this drink recipe, which he calls “Saints & Sinners” thanks to the St. Elder liquor and Hellfire Bitters. (Saints and Sinners were also the names of my college acapella groups (hey SLU!) but this is in no way relevant to the cocktail…)

He also proved that mezcal doesn’t need to be dressed up with fermented-papaya-roots-blessed-by-mermaids for it to be enjoyable. This recipe is pretty simple. Enjoy!

Saints & Sinners Mezcal Cocktail

3 parts [decent] Mezcal
1 part Elderflower liquor, such as St. Elder* (optional)
1 part Pineapple Juice
1 scant part Lime Juice
1 squirt Angostura Bitters
2 squirts Hellfire Bitters

Shake the above with ice in a cocktail shaker.

Rim a rocks glass with Chili Powder & Mesquite blend Seasoning – don’t skip this! It’s the best part!

Strain into the glass + enjoy your smokey, citrusy, floral, exotic-ingredient-free cocktail.

*The St. Elder takes the tart edge off the lime juice, so if you like more citrusy drinks, skip the St. Elder. If you like more floral sweetness, give it a shot. Either way, prepare to have your socks knocked off.

 

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