We love agave here at Master of Malt. The sheer variety in the mezcal category alone is mind blowing, from the smoky and pungent, to fruity and aromatic, not forgetting smooth, toffee-tinged reposados. While mezcal is traditionally drunk neat in Mexico, it’s increasingly popular as a cocktail ingredient. Basically any cocktail that requires Tequila can also be made with mezcal but you can also pour it instead of gin or bourbon in classics like a Negroni or Old Fashioned.
If you want to learn more about this exciting spirit, go to our mezcal page for a full explainer.
The Disco Picante was created by British bartender Sarah Ben Saoud. She said her favourite cocktail is a Dry Martini but she also has “an extreme weakness for a disco drink” when she’s in the mood hence the Disco Picante which gets its extremely cool colour from blue curacao.
Ingredients:
45ml Del Maguey Mezcal Vida
10ml De Kuyper Blue Curaçao
25ml lime juice
10ml agave syrup
15ml spice liqueur such as Giffard Piment D’Espelette or Ancho Reyes
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Serve in rocks or Highball glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lime or jalapeño pepper.
This refreshing, lighter take on the classic Margarita works brilliantly on a warm day especially if you make jug up in advance. It’s probably not one to use your most pungent mezcal in, something like Montelobos Joven is a good fit.
Ingredients:
50ml Montelobos Joven Mezcal
25ml Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
25ml lime juice
25ml blood orange juice
Soda water
Method:
Briefly shake the first four ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. Strain into an ice-filled tumbler (you can salt the rim if you so wish but it’s not essential), top up with soda, stir and garnish with a half slice of blood orange.
Well, with a name like El Diablo, use a mezcal with a bit of fire and brimstone. Instead of cassis, you could use Chambord, creme de mure or even sloe gin for an Anglo-Mexican mash-up. Oh and for the full diabolical effect, put two wedges of lime in the top to make the horns of the devil.
Ingredients:
30ml QuiQuiRiQui Matatlan
15ml White Heron Creme de Cassis
Juice of half a lime
Chilled ginger beer
Method:
Squeeze the lime into the bottom of an ice-filled Highball glass and drop it in. Add the Tequila and creme de cassis. Stir and top up with ginger beer. Stir again briefly and garnish with two slices of lime.
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