{friday cocktail: mezcal sazerac}

I absolutely love using mezcal in cocktails to add that interesting smokey flavor.  I generally use it only as a float on top of a cocktail like spicy margaritas, but for today's recipe I decided to let it be the star of the drink.  This cocktail is simply a classic sazerac cocktail with the usual rye switched out for mezcal.   The absinthe rinse paired with the strong smoke flavor of the mezcal and aromatic peychaud bitters basically makes this drink a punch in the face.  Definitely not a light aperitif, but the perfect sipping accompaniment after a long night.

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: mezcal mule}

I was first introduced to mezcal at downtown Los Angeles' tequila-only bar, Las Perlas, and I definitely did not care for it at first- it tasted as if someone put out their cigar out in my drink.  Over the years I have tried it out in different drinks and now I even prefer it to regular tequila (this is the bottle we keep on our bar currently).   When mixed correctly, I find I appreciate the smokey taste and depth of flavor this interesting spirit adds.  I found this cocktail recipe for a Mezcal Mule in one of my favorite cocktail books that I have mentioned here and actually got the chance to meet the author at during this event.  This cocktail might just the perfect balance of spice and smoke - perfect for a hot summer night fiesta!

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: spicy paloma}

A while back I posted a recipe for a refreshing Dill Paloma recipe that was my go to recipe at one of our fave bars in downtown Los Angeles and believe it or not I haven't had a Paloma since the last time I was there!  Seeing this recent party on The Glitter Guide inspired me to try out a new Paloma recipe, but this time I put a spicy twist on it:

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: summerside}

This friday's cocktail reminds me of the smell of driving down PCH highway along the beach on a summer night with the smell of evening bonfires travelling into the window.   This recipe is inspired from a mix of a classic caipirinha and a southside, but with a smokey twist from the mezcal.   It's the perfect refreshing recipe for an outdoor get together this summer. 

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: a smoke & a beer}

For the most part, the friday cocktail recipes on this blog are pretty girly- they tend to include champagne, be pink or red in color and are garnished with cute stir sticks or festive straws, but every now and then, it's fun to try something different.  The other night while searching through one of our favorite cocktail books trying to find a recipe to make for Chris, I came across one for "a smoke & a beer" which we just so happened to have all the ingredients for.  This is definitely one of those recipes where you read the ingredient line up and question how this combination could ever be enjoyable.  The resulting cocktail is much like a manly-er version of a bloody mary, but with a little bit of fizz from the beer and distinct smokey flavor from the mezcal.

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: fennel delight}

One of my favorite things about growing up in southern California is the smell of bonfires on the beach while driving down PCH; it's a very specific smell that conjures up memories of s'mores and summer nights.  You would think given my affinity for that smokey scent that I would love drinking cocktails with the ultra smokey flavor that Mezcal tequila has, but try as I might I just cannot get into it.  To me it's like candy corn- every year it comes around and you try one thinking you might like this time around, but its still gross and makes you reach for a glass of something to wash the taste away.  Anyways Chris loves Mezcal, so I made this cocktail as a labor of love just for him.  It might appear to be fruity and pink, but the heavy smoke taste of the Mezcal mixed with the licorice flavor of the fennel makes this cocktail quite manly.  You can see the original recipe here which I have modified slightly to make it a little less sweet.  

Cheers!