Mezcal Two Ways
“Yo there's no place to hide as I step inside the room
Dr. Doom, prepare for the boom
Bam! Aw, man! I, slam, jam, now scream like Tarzan”
The second I opened Casa Lumbre’s Ojo De Tigre Mezcal Wu-Tang Clan burst into my head. Just like those vicious blows dealt by the notorious nine, Ojo De Tigre consumed my nostrils and used them like a punching bag.
Intoxicated by the rich, vegetal notes down to the fruity esters I knew I wanted to create something a) spicy and with bubbles (I love the combination of champagne with spice because the tiny bubbles amplify the heat so well) and b) something stirred and boozy.
1.5 ounce Ojo de Tigre
.5 ounce Cocchi Americano
.75 Lemon Juice
.5 ounce Mango-Green Tea Syrup
Dash of Datil Pepper Tincture (Sub for desired spicy bitters)
Top with Bubbles
Garnish: Lemon Peel
Instructions:
Add all ingredients (except bubbles) into shaker tin, add ice, shake until properly chilled, strain into desired glass, top with bubbles (1-2 oz), zest lemon over top and garnish.
Notes:
Mango-Green Tea Syrup - There are two ways to do this, the most simple is to purchase mango-green tea, brew your tea and then use that to make your 1:1 simple syrup. The second way to do it is to brew green tea, then simmer that with fresh cut mango then combine 1:1 with your sugar component.
I am a huge fan of the Martinez cocktail so going into creating this one knew I wanted to pair Ojo De Tigre’s huge floral bouquet with one of my favorite sweet vermouths, Cocchi di Torino, along with D.O.M. Benedictine for it’s sweet herbal elements.
I thought it’d be fun to reduce the notorious Mexican Coca Cola into an added sugar component since Cocchi di Torino toes the line of a drier sweet vermouth, a touch of this coke reduction adds that boost of sweetness.
Cherry Bark Bitters add that nostalgic cherry element and add brightness for the final touch.
Ingredients:
Crystal Vision
1.5 ounce Ojo de Tigre
1.5 ounce Cocchi di Torino Sweet Vermouth
1/4 Benedictine
1/4 Mexican Coke Reduction
Cherry Bark Bitters
Garnish: Orange Twist
Instructions:
Add all of the ingredients to a mixing glass, stir with ice, strain into rocks glass over large format ice (or whatever you have handy), and garnish with and orange peel.
