Smokey Arroyo
This is a fun Mezcal based cocktail that may remind you of a Margarita, with a little bit more. We're not sure where the name came from, but an arroyo is a creek in an arid region, which kind of suits this cocktail. If you don't have Mezcal on hand, don't be tempted to use Tequila. It will likely still taste great, but you won't get the same smoky craziness that this drink requires. Although Tequila is a type of Mezcal, it's a very different style from "Mezcal" Mezcal (if that makes any sense!). That being said, the citrus elements do well to combat some of the more intense flavours of a good Mezcal, so even if you're not usually a Mezcal drinker, you'll find it a little more toned down.Enjoy this cocktail as something a little bit different.
Ingredients
- 45 mL Mezcal
- 30 mL Grapefruit Juice
- 15 mL Lime Juice
- 15 mL Rosemary Syrup*
- Salt to rim glass.
- Garnish with Grapefruit wedge (optional)
Instructions
- Salt the rim of a glass and set it aside. You can serve this cocktail in any glass.
- Shake the Mezcal, Grapefruit Juice, Lime Juice, and Rosemary Syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice until good and cold.
- Strain into your glass. Serve with or without fresh ice.
- Garnish. Drink.
Notes
*Rosemary Syrup is quite easy to make, find a recipe here.
Make sure you use a nice Mezcal for this cocktail. There's a lot going on here with the Grapefruit and Lime Juices, so you need something that can work with it. Mezcal and citrus go really well together as well. Both have pretty intense flavours - the citrus being tart and the Mezcal being fairly vibrant - they play and mingle together ensuring nothing becomes too overpowering.
And that's what's nice about this cocktail. There's a lot going on, but in a lot of ways not too much. It may be a little intense for some, but for others it's just the drink they're looking for.
Enjoy.