Celebrate Mezcal Day with cocktails that toast the spirit’s past, present and future

While many people gravitate towards tequila as the Mexican spirit, mezcal showcases the artisanal connection to the Mexican culture. To celebrate Mezcal Day, it is time to see how this agave-based liquor can weave it way into a wide variety of cocktails.

Although there are many ways to describe the differences between tequila and mezcal, a simple distinction is often focused on the flavor. Mezcal tends to be more robust, have deeper flavor notes. It is more than the smoky description that often drives the conversation. Whether drunk on its own to appreciate the craft that distills its flavor or shaken into a cocktail to discover a new drinking experience, mezcal is a spirit that should always be part of the conversation.

Recently, mezcal has been having a surge in popularity. It has even been touted as the second fastest growing spirit. The bottles are being opened and people are looking to enjoy the agave based spirit in its many forms.

Whether it is trying to convert a tequila drinker or enticing the whiskey lover to step away from the brown spirit, showcasing mezcal’s many uses can be a starting point. Swapping the spirits in a classic cocktail can blend the familiar and new.

The Northwest Brand Ambassador for Mezcal UNIÓN Jessica Braasch, professional mixologist, agave enthusiast, explained her reasoning while she believes mezcal deserves to be part of the conversation. “There’s really nothing else like agave in the world. Mezcal has deep historic and cultural roots in Mexico, where the agave is considered a sacred plant with many beautiful origin stories.”

With the Mezcal UNIÓN, the brand is showcasing its offering in an Old Fashioned. This cocktail has a nod to the Mexican flavors with the Mole Negro Bitters. For the whiskey drinker who rarely steps away from their signature spirit, this offering showcases the mezcal’s flavor depth. It can stand up to everything else in the glass and still shine.

Mezcal UNIÓN Oaxaca Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 1.25 oz Mezcal UNIÓN Uno
• 1 oz Vermouth Rosso
• 1 oz Orange Bitters
• 3 drops Mole Negro Bitters
• Orange twist

Instructions:

• Mix ingredients together and pour over ice into an Old-Fashioned glass. Spritz and garnish with an orange twist. Enjoy!

For the drinker who longs for that smoky note, the Lobos 1707 Mezcal Artisanal puts that experience front and center. In combination with some warm, slightly comforting spices, the initial aroma excites even before the first sip hits the mouth. As the smooth mouthfeel adds to the enjoyment, the lingering finish leaves a lasting impression and invites the drinker to experience the moment again and again.

Since the Paloma is a lovely cocktail to celebrate Mezcal Day, here is the Lobos 1707 Mezcal Artisanal version.

Lobos Paloma

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Lobos 1707 Mezcal
• 1 oz. Passion Fruit Syrup
• .75 oz. Lime Juice
• .5 oz. Campari

Method:

• Add all ingredients into a shaker, add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with rosemary and cherries.

The Negroni continues to have a moment in the cocktail culture. By using a mezcal in the shaker, enjoyment goes in a new direction.

In this cocktail from Mezcal Campante, the liquor’s floral and citrus notes contrast the bitter notes in the cocktail. And, the hint of sweetness awakens the palate for a new experience that might become a new tradition.

Mezcal Campante Negroni

Ingredients

• · 1 oz Mezcal Campante
• · 1 oz Vermouth Rosso
• · 1 oz Campari
• · For garnish: orange zest

Instructions

• · Combine Mezcal Campante, Campari and Vermouth in a shaker
• · Add ice and stir well
• · Strain the mixture into a chilled glass

Lastly, few people have thought of using mezcal in a martini. To celebrate Mezcal Day, consider this martini idea that is a nod to Mexican culture. While it might not necessarily have the traditional ingredients of seasonal Mexican dish, there is a reason to celebrate the subtleties in this beverage.

Mezcal Martini

Recipe:

• 1.5oz Fósforo Tobalá Mezcal
• 0.5oz Dry Gin
• 0.,5oz Yellow Chartreuse
• 0.5oz Dry Vermouth

Instruction:

• Chill a coup or nick-and-nora glass. Build ingredients into a shaker.
• Shake and s train. Garnish with Poblano pepper coin.

It is time to celebrate Mezcal Day. From cocktails to simple sipping, do not let the moment pass without a moment to enjoy it all.