Food & Beverage

2014 Recipe File: Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails

By Mary-Kate Dunphy Feb 25, 2014 1:00am

Spirits Food & Beverage

Mezcal and tequila are two entirely different liquors. Tequila can only be made from the blue agave in specific areas of Jalisco and Mexico; mezcal can be made from any type of agave. Regardless of their differences, tequila and mezcal cocktails often bring about thoughts of warmer weather so give your customers a little hope and wishful thinking with some of these delicious beverage recipes.

Apple Dandy Created by Brian MacGregor of Wingtip in San Francisco 1 ½ oz. Espolon Reposado Tequila 1 oz. Pommeau de Normandie ½ oz. Chamomile Syrup* Half a Squeeze of Lemon Shake and strain into an elegant cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel studded with cloves.

Smoke and Fire Rebecca Turner, Mission Taco Joint, St Louis, MO 2 oz. Del Maguey Vida ½ oz. House Made Serrano Syrup ½ oz. Dolin Blanc Vermouth 3 Dash Bittermens Hellfire Habenero shrub Glass: Martini Muddle 1/4 in slice fresh serrano in glass. Add liquid ingredients Add ice and stir.

Rita Rioja Created by Avión 1 ½ oz. Tequila Avión Reposado ¾ oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice ¾ oz. Simple Syrup (equal parts sugar and water) Fresh Red Pepper Cilantro Muddle a fresh red pepper and a few leaves of cilantro in a cocktail shaker. Add Tequila Avión Reposado, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a salt rimmed cocktail glass.

Green Iced Tea Created by James Labe 1 Numi Decaf Ginger Lemon Tea 3 oz. fresh Cucumber Juice 1 ½ oz. Tequila Splash of Lemon Juice Infuse one tea bag in Tequila for thirty minutes, then remove bag, squeezing out excess. Combine and stir ingredients. Serve on the rocks. Garnish with Lime Wedge.

Hornitos The Burgundy Created by Hornitos 1 ½ oz. Hornitos Plata Tequila ½ oz. Honey Syrup ¼ oz. Mezcal ¾ oz. Sweet Vermouth Orange Twist Add ingredients to a mixing glass, stir and strain over fresh ice (large cubes preferred) and garnish with orange twist.

Watermelon Rita Created by Patrón Silver 2 oz. Patrón Silver 1 oz. Monin Watermelon Syrup 1 oz. Fresh Sweet & Sour 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice 6 thin sliced cucumber slices Shake all ingredients with ice, pour over fresh ice in rocks glass. Garnish with Watermelon Slice

Old Oaxacan Created by Marcos Tello 2 oz. Mezcal El Silencio 1 oz. Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water) ¾ oz. Fresh lime juice 4 to 8 Mint leaves 4 to 5 dashes Angostura Bitters 2 oz. Champagne Add all the ingredients except the Champagne to a shaker and muddle briefly. Fill with ice, shake for 10 seconds and strain into a coupe glass. Top with the Champagne and garnish with a lime wheel and a mint sprig.

The Heartbreaker Created by Avión 1 ½ oz. Avión Reposado ¾ oz. Black Peach Tea ¼ oz. White Peach Puree ¼ oz. Lemon Juice ¾ oz. Brown Sugar ¼ oz. Cranberry Juice 3 Blackberries 1 Blackberry and Lemon Wheel for garnish Muddle blackberries and brown sugar in shaker. Add all ingredients and shake. Double strain and pour into a glass over ice. Garnish with 1 blackberry and a lemon wheel.

Mezcal Passion Created by Sombra Mezcal 1 ½ oz. Sombra mezcal ¾ oz. fresh lime juice 3 oz. passion fruit puree 3 muddled cucumber slices 1 barspoon of agave nectar 1 oz. House Ginger Beer Add the lime, agave nectar and cucumber slices to a mixing glass, then muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients, then ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of cucumber and a pinch of ground chili.

The Bradshaw Created by Don Julio 1 oz. Don Julio Blanco Tequila ½ oz. Passion Fruit Liqueur ½ oz. Simple Syrup ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice Add all ingredients to mixing tin. Shake vigorously. Pour into a martini glass that has a hot pink sugar rim. Taste for balance and garnish with a lime wedge.

Spirits Food & Beverage