Another amazing creation that dcame out of Death & Co. NYC, Joaquín Simó created this in 2011. Lemon adds tartness, St Germain sweetness and of course Green Chartreuse bring all that herbal complexity as well as a fair amount of proof to the drink. And it remains well-balanced despite the strong smoke mezcal brings to the party.

Naked and Famous

Joaquín SimóDeath & Co. NYC2010s

Spirit Agave

Cocktail family Equal-Parts · Sidecar

Flavors

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Mezcal
• 3/4 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz Aperol
• 3/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse

Method

• Place ingredients in shaking tin, add ice, shake for 15 seconds.
• Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.
• Garnish with lime twist.

Equipment

• Shaker
• Fine Strainer
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Peeler or Knife

Glass

Coupe

Garnish

Fashioned Named for the Mexican state from where many of the smokiest of mezcals hail, this drink mixes reposado tequila, which is lightly aged in oak, with the super-smoky flavors of mezcal. For a smoke-phobic drinker like myself, I’ve reduced the mezcal to a 3:1 ratio with the tequila base, creating a gateway into the world of smoky agave spirits.

Oaxacan Old-Fashioned

Spirit Agave

Cocktail family Old-Fashioned

Flavors

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Mezcal
• 1 teaspoon Agave Nectar
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Method

• Add the tequila, mezcal, agave nectar and Angostura bitters in an old-fashioned glass with one large ice cube, and stir until well-chilled.
• Flame an orange peel over the top of the drink to express oils, then garnish with the peel.

Equipment

• Mixing Glass
• Bar Spoon
• Peeler or Knife
• Lighter

Glass

Rocks

Garnish

I created my take on the classic margarita blend of sour, sweet and savory, and named it for my mom, Rita Trotz. Here I’m splitting the sour base using lime, orange, and lemon juices, and agave syrup. Using mixology mad-scientist Dave Arnold’s tip from his book, Liquid Intelligence, I add a touch of saline solution. Salt is a flavor enhancer – try it in pretty much any cocktail!

Rita’s ‘rita

Spirit Agave

Cocktail family Daisy · Smash

Flavors Fresh · Fruity · Tart

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 oz Tequila Blanco Casamigos or Fortaleza
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 1/4 oz Blue Agave Syrup
• 3/4 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
• 1/4 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 4 drops 20% Saline 20g Salt, 80g Water

Method

• Combine all ingredients in your shaker.
• Add ice and shake 10-15 seconds.
• Double-strain into a double Old- fashioned glass over a big rock.
• Garnish with a lime wedge.

Equipment

• Shaker
• Fine Strainer
• Hawthorne Strainer

Glass

Rocks

Garnish

Lime Wedge

This drink comes from Kirkland Tap in Sommerville, Massachusetts. The original calls for Cocchi Americano Rosa, but is equally delicious using other vermouths, like Carpano Antica or Lillet Blanc.

Santa Rosa

Spirit Agave

Cocktail family Sidecar

Flavors

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila Blanco
• 1/4 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth or Lillet Blanc or Coccchi Rosa
• 1/2 oz Peach Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/4 oz Agave Syrup

Method

• Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice.
• Shake until chilled.
• Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
• Express oils from twist, rub along glass rim and garnish.

Equipment

• Shaker
• Fine Strainer
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Peeler or Knife

Glass

Coupe

Garnish