Sweet and Smoky, This Mezcal Marvel is an Absolute Must-Try

This recipe is part of our premium cocktail recipe series:

So by now hopefully you’ve tracked down at least one of our recommended premium spirits and had the chance to craft a truly incredible quaff. From here on out, this series is going to blaze ahead of our premium spirits list and feature incredible hand-selected distillates from around the world and imaginative mixes you can use them in.

This week we are again looking far afield for a unique and storied spirit, to temperate Oaxaca, Mexico. Here, the agave grow strong and tall in their fields and skilled, caring hands work with centuries of tradition to produce mezcal, a smoky, complex distillate native to Mexico. In this week’s cocktail recipe, Bozal’s Sacrifico Borrega Mezcal takes centre stage in a savoury, smoky and sweet riff on the classic Paloma. Read on for the low down on this simple yet spectacular recipe.

Despite its long-standing popularity, not much is known for sure about the paloma's origins. As Mexico’s favourite cocktail today, many naturally speculate that the humble tequila, lime juice and grapefruit cocktail was invented there, possibly even named after the 19th Century Mexican folk song of the same name. Regardless, today the paloma is enjoyed the world over (in just about every bar that stocks tequila, I’d imagine).

La Paloma y Borrega is a savoury and earthy riff on this sweet and refreshing drink, swapping in the Sacrificio Borrega Mezcal for the traditional tequila. This premium mezcal’s uniquely viscous palate, grain-derived earthy tones and luxurious lamb-smoke finish will shine through the mix while being nicely balanced by the citrus juice and uplifted by the soda.

Add just a couple of sprigs of rosemary to garnish and you’ve got a complex, rich and more-ish cocktail that you’ll want to share and savour.

La Paloma y Borrega: A Smoky, Sweet and Savoury Refresher

Ingredients

45 mL Sacrificio Borrega Mezcal
60 mL pink grapefruit juice
15 mL lime juice
~ 10 mL agave syrup (or simple syrup)
2 Rosemary sprigs + 1 more for garnish
Splash of soda water
Grapefruit wedge

Method

Combine mezcal, citrus juices, syrup and 2 rosemary sprigs in a cocktail shaker filled with ice
Shake for around 20 seconds
Strain into a tall tumbler filled with ice and rimmed with salt flakes
Top up with soda water
Garnish with grapefruit wedge and remaining rosemary sprig

Working on your bar skills? Check out our Premium Cocktail Series for more recipes.

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