Fresh herbs, jalapeños, mango and smoky Mezcal Creyente Joven create a smooth, balanced elemental cocktail; the Mezcal Mango Smash margarita. vegan + gluten free | Disclosure: This post was produced in collaboration with and is sponsored by Mezcal Creyente.
Recipe Inspiration
Late last year I started hearing about a new(ish) spirit called mezcal. Apparently it would appeal to my Texas roots due to my love of smoky flavors. Intrigued by what I’d learned, I was excited to give this agave-based spirit a try.
Mezcal Creyente is a blend of Espadin agaves from two different regions of Oaxaca, Mexico. It’s full bodied yet with sweet hints of fruit, light herbal notes and a smoky nose. It’s uniquely complex. Smoky notes are derived by the way Mezcal Creyente is crafted. In part, the process of roasting agave hearts, the piñas, with mesquite wood yields a unique smoky characteristic in this spirit.
A Cocktail Challenge
Mezcal Creyente challenged me to create a signature cocktail based on the “ruling element” of my zodiac sign. Since I’m a Taurus, my ruling element is Earth.
Taurus considers taste one of the most important tactile senses so it’s no wonder that they love to cook and garden. Could you get any more accurate than this?
Inspired by the characteristics of my sign, I knew I wanted to create a cocktail with fresh herbs and fruit since these are an example of Earth’s abundant flora, but I couldn’t help but include fiery jalapeños, a nod to the geologic processes that shape our planet. This mezcal simply called for it.
A Balanced Cocktail
Mango, cilantro, lime, jalapeños, orange liqueur and Mezcal Creyente combine to create a sweet-smoky, balanced Mezcal Mango Smash margarita cocktail with not too much of each element overpowering one or the other. Jalapeño adds a smooth spice while cilantro balances the sweetness of the mango, both to complement and highlight smoky Mezcal Creyente.
Lime adds a bit of acidity to tie all the flavors together for a velvety finish with interesting layers.
Taste.
Each.
One.
Mezcal Mango Smash margarita is versatile. The sweet and spicy of this cocktail can be adjusted to your preference. I prefer three jalapeños rings, while Rob 1 1/2 (rolls eyes). Also, I love the natural sweetness of mango, but Rob thought a bit of simple put this cocktail in his preferred category.
Playing with the ingredients is half the fun!
What signature cocktail would you create with Mezcal Creyente?
Mezcal Mango Smash
Ingredients
For the Cocktail:
- 3 Lime Wedges
- 2-3 Fresh Jalapeños Rings* (see note) adjust to taste
- 3 Sprigs of Fresh Cilantro stem and leaves
- 1/4 oz (7g) Simple Syrup (optional - recipe below**)
- 1 1/2 oz (42g) Mezcal Creyente Joven
- 1 oz (28g) Orange Liqueur
- 1 oz (28g) Mango Nectar unsweetened
For the Rim:
- 1 Lime Wedge
- 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 1/2 tsp Smoky Paprika
Instructions
For the Cocktail:
- In a cocktail shaker or mixer add the lime wedges, jalapeño rings, cilantro and simple syrup. Muddle to incorporate the lime juice and essential oils of the herbs and jalapeños. Add the orange liquor, mezcal, and mango nectar. Top with ice and stir/shake. Rim a low-ball glass with lime, then dip into salt/paprika mixture. Fill the glass with ice and double strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with cilantro, lime and jalapeño rings (if desired).
- For a spicier approach, make the cocktail and instead of straining into a low-ball with ice, strain into a ball jar, add up to three jalapeño rings and infuse for up to 24 hours.
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