2 Smoky Cocktails for National Mezcal Day

Autumn is the perfect time to mix up a drink with smoky, complex mezcal, and with National Mezcal Day on October 21, there’s even more reason to celebrate!

We’re always ready to celebrate with a glass of mezcal, but today there’s even more reason to make a toast! There are plenty of ways to enjoy mezcal, today we have two fun and fruity cocktails for mixologists of every level.

La Pasion

La Pasion

By Casey Willis, Bar Manager, Chelsea Corner Dallas, TX

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Ilegal Mezcal Joven
• 1/2 oz. Creme De Cacao
• 3/4 oz. Lustau Amontillado Sherry
• 3/4 oz. Passion Fruit Syrup*
• Topo Chico sparkling water
• Hawaiian Black Sea Salt for rimmer
• Dehydrated blood orange slice

Preparation: Rim a tall Collins glass with black salt. Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin and shake hard. Strain into a rimmed glass and top with Topo Chico. Garnish with dehydrated blood orange wheel.

*Passion Fruit Syrup

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. The Perfect Purée Passion Fruit Concentrate, thawed
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar

Preparation: Add water and sugar to pot, heat and dissolve sugar. Take off heat and add Passion Fruit Concentrate. Let cool.

Oaxacan Holiday

Oaxacan Holiday

By H. Joseph Ehrmann, Chief Mixology Officer, Fresh Victor

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Mezcal
• 1 1/2 oz. Fresh Victor Pineapple & Ginger Root
• 3/4 oz. Fresh Victor Cactus Pear & Pomegranate
• 1 dash DeGroff’s Pimento Bitters or other aromatic bitters

Preparation: Build all ingredients over a cocktail shaker full of ice, shake well and strain over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with pineapple pieces.