Mingling with Mezcal

What To Do With That Bottle of Mezcal You Bought in Mexico 2 Years Ago

Duped at Duty Free?

Mezcal Martinez - "What's that? You want me to add a cherry? Twist my arm"

It seemed like such a good idea in Duty Free at the airport. I had fallen in love with the smokey-eyed cousin of tequila while hiking Mayan ruins in the Yucatan; OK, and also lazing about Tulum’s stunning beaches. It was like my devotion to a good peaty-scotch had been translated into Spanish. I had a new crush! I should definitely bring a bottle home! Then it sat in my liquor cabinet for a couple years (albeit, pregnant for most of one of those year) and it inched its way farther and farther back in the cabinet until I’d almost  completely forgotten about it .
 Recently, I was cleaning out my cabinet because I had run out of space and bottles of alcohol started accumulating around my house, (not a good look for play dates) when I rediscovered the Mezcal.

Plays well with others

Honestly, I think I avoided it because it intimidated me. I wasn't sure what to do with it, or what I should mix it with. Should I just sip it? Will I have to make a simple syrup? (I'm normally too lazy for that level of effort.) But one thing this blog seems to be good for is pushing my boundaries and getting me outside my comfort zone.

Mezcal vs Tequila

Mezcal, derived from over 30 species and varietals of the agave plant, literally translates to "oven-baked agave." Tequila is a type of mezcal made only in specific regions of Mexico from the blue agave plant. You could very easily sub these two for one another in many recipes, but the taste is quite different. The mezcal brings a smokey and more complex flavoring to the palette. If you like your scotch with extra peat, you should give mezcal a whirl.

Salud!

So here are two diverse recipes that I stumbled upon Saveur.com and made some minor alterations due to what was available in the home bar; and, a Mexican blessing to toast while you try them:

"Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también." Translation: For everything bad, mezcal, and for everything good as well. Words to live by, my friends.

Walking Stick - I made a simple syrup for this. Yeah, it was worth it.

Mezcal Martinez - with it's smokey aura this seems like a natural pairing between the Cynar and Mezcal.

2 oz El Senorio Mezcal

1⁄2 oz Sweet Vermouth

1⁄2 oz Cynar

1⁄4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Orange peel and cherry for garnish

Combine all liquors over ice and stir for 30 seconds. Pour into chilled coupe glass and garnish with orange peel (light it if you're feeling fancy) and I added the cherry b/c I thought I heard it ask for one.

Walking Stick - implying you may need one to get home after one of these. Unlike the recipe above, this one goes down all too easily.

1 oz El Senorio Mezcal

1 oz rum (I used Sailor Jerry's)

3⁄4 oz fresh lime juice

3⁄4 oz cinnamon simple syrup

1⁄2 oz Campari

1⁄4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur (subbed for Cherry Heering)

1⁄4 oz B&B (subbed for Benedictine)

1 sprig mint, for garnish

Combine all but mint and shake on ice. Pour over ice (crushed if you've got some) into a hurricane glass, garnish with mint sprig.

By Julz Vivalo