What I’m Drinking Now: Mike Grave and the Oaxacan On Sunshine

Mike Grave is bar manager at George’s at the Cove in La Jolla, CA.

Catedral Mezcal is from the state of Oaxaca, so the Oaxacan On Sunshine drink is a play on the fun song Walking On Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves. We always try to have at least one mezcal drink on the cocktail list, and for this one, the subtle spice of the hot honey and charred jalapeño compliments the light smokiness of the mezcal.  

We have been working with Catedral for a couple years now and we respect that the maestro mezcaleros who create their product are also equity owners of the U.S. brand, which is unique. 

This drink is essentially a Margarita using mezcal and honey instead of tequila and agave syrup, which offers a richer profile. By leaving the char on the jalapenos when we make the hot honey, it gives the final product a nice roasty flavor layered on to the spice and vegetal character from the jalapenos. The subtle smokiness of the mezcal complements both the spice and roasty notes. 

For our lime juice, we use a technique called “super juice” that uses the whole fruit instead of just squeezing. By supplementing the naturally occurring acids, the end product is much more environmentally friendly and follows our goal toward zero-waste in the bar.

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