Mezcalita Recipes

MEZCALITA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Crush the nacho cheese chips, reserving 1 whole chip for garnish. Place the chip crumbs on a baking sheet and toast until dark, 5 to 10 minutes; add the sea salt and let cool. Rim a martini glass with agave, then coat the rim of the glass with the chip crumbles.
• Add the mezcal, lime juice and Simple Syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with the reserved nacho cheese chip.
• Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 month.

MEZCAL OLD-FASHIONED

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, 8 drops mole bitters (such as Bittermens) and 2 teaspoons warm water in a rocks glass; stir until most of the sugar is dissolved. Add 1 large ice cube (or 3 regular ice cubes) and pour in 2 ounces mezcal joven. Stir until the cocktail is chilled and the mezcal is diluted, about 20 seconds. Twist a strip of orange peel over the top and rub it on the inside rim of the glass before dropping it into the cocktail.

MEZCAL-TEQUILA MARGARITA

Steps:

• Prepare the salted half rim, if using: In a small shallow bowl or plate, sprinkle a thin layer of the sal de gusano. Run the lime wedge along half of the rim of a rocks glass, then dip the rim into the salt mixture.
• In a shaker, combine the tequila, mezcal, orange liqueur, lime juice and simple syrup. Add ice, cover, and shake vigorously until the drink is well chilled, about 15 seconds.
• Fill the glass with ice, then strain the margarita into the glass. Add the lime wedge; enjoy immediately.

SPICY MEZCAL MARGARITA

Steps:

• Mix 1 tablespoon sugar with salt on a shallow, rimmed plate. Use lime wedge to wet rims of two 6- to 8-ounce glasses. Dip rims into sugar mixture.
• Combine jalapeno and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar in a cocktail shaker and muddle until sugar is dissolved and jalapeno is juiced. Add orange juice, mezcal, and lime juice to shaker, then fill with ice. Cover and shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into glasses to serve.

MEZCALITA VERDE COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Make the jugo verde by whizzing the pineapple, parsley, lime juice, cucumber and 200-250ml water in a blender. Add the jalapeño (the amount will depend on how spicy you'd like it) and blend. Adjust the sweetness by adding some agave syrup. Strain into a jug and chill - this makes about 800ml, use for another round of cocktails, or freeze the leftovers.
• Mix the mezcal with a dash of agave syrup, 50ml of the jugo verde and some ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into glasses with a slice of cucumber for garnish.

MEZCAL FRESCA

Steps:

• Make the hibiscus syrup: In a saucepan, combine the hibiscus blossoms and 1 cup water, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the sugar and salt, stir to dissolve, then turn off heat and allow to cool completely. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract all the syrup. (You should have about 1 1/4 cup syrup.) Keep it in the refrigerator, tightly covered in an airtight container, for up to 3 weeks.
• Make the cocktail: In an ice-filled shaker, combine the mezcal, hibiscus syrup, allspice dram, grapefruit juice and lime juice. Cover and shake until well chilled. Fill a rocks glass with ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass and top with soda water.