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Mezcal Mango Smash

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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. All opinions are my own.

The Mezcal Mango Smash made with Creyente Mezcal in glasses ready for sharing.

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.

The making of a Mezcal Mango Smash Cocktail with lime and jalapeno in a muddling glass.     Adding simple syrup to the cilantro, lime and jalapeno in a cocktail muddling glass. Mezcal Creyente Joven being poured into a shot glass.     Fresh herbs, jalapeños, and mango in a cocktail muddling glass ready to make a cocktail. Pouring Mezcal Creyente Joven into a cocktail muddling glass.

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.

Fresh herbs, jalapeños, mango and smoky Mezcal Creyente Joven in a cocktail muddling glass.     Pouring mago puree into a cocktail muddling glass. A GIF of stirring the the Mezcal Mango Smash in a cocktail muddling glass.

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.

The Mezcal Mango Smash made with Creyente Mezcal in glasses ready for sharing.

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?

The Mezcal Mango Smash made with Creyente Mezcal in glasses ready for sharing.
Print Recipe
4.67 from 3 votes

Mezcal Mango Smash

Fresh herbs, jalapeños, mango and smoky Mezcal Creyente Jovan create a smooth, balanced elemental cocktail; the Mezcal Mango Smash. vegan + gluten free
Total Time5 mins
Servings: 1 Cocktail
Calories: 253kcal
Author: Traci York | Vanilla And Bean

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:

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. 

Notes

*Because jalapeño heat varies, test the jalapeño prior to muddling and adjust to desired taste. Because I love spicy things, I tend to use three rings in my cocktail. Rob prefers two. 
**Mango nectar is sweet, however if a sweeter cocktail is desired, make a batch of simple syrup to add. Bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil (1/4 C each) and simmer until all the sugar is dissolved. Pour into a storage container and refrigerate until ready to use.  
Nutrition is provided as an estimate (per serving) and courtesy. If this information is important to you, please verify it independently.
Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1177mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 1395IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Loved it? Leave a comment below! Take a snap of what you made and share it on social: @VanillaAndBean, tag #VanillaAndBean!
Fresh herbs, jalapeños, mango and smoky Mezcal Creyente Joven create a smooth, balanced elemental cocktail; the Mezcal Mango Smash cocktail

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    • Traci says

      Hey Robbie! Thank you for your note and stopping by! The jalapeno yields a subtle spice… unless of course, you want to add more to take it over the top! I hope you enjoy this flavor packed sipper!

      Reply

  4. Emilie @ The Clever Carrot says

    So pretty! There’s nothing better than a tantalizing refreshing cocktail! This is it. I recently had a cocktail with chipotle syrup and I totally get that ‘smoky’ flavor. So subtle and so wonderful! Great drink for summer, Traci :)

    Reply

  5. Tessa | Salted Plains says

    I am so into this! That last paragraph about your preferences and Rob’s made me laugh out loud. Sounds very familiar!! Haha. I think the mango and mezcal sound like such a perfect match. Cheers, my friend! <3

    Reply

  6. amisha says

    This is such a beautiful cocktail concoction that you have created! I have mango in margaritas, and am sure this one with the punch of the jalapeno and cilantro and mescal are perfect together! I tried mescal on my trip to Mexico last year, and was quite intriqued how smooth it feels on the throat!

    and I love the fact that Taurus love to cook and garden… that’s definitely you and me hehe! :) Love this post! and the gorgeous shots!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Oh my word, Sarah! I think you’d like this! SO many possibilities to pair with the smoky notes. I hope you’ll give it a go!

      Reply

    • Traci says

      hehe… I hope it was a good, long weekend, Geraldine! The mix of flavors is sublime… and the smoky mezcal takes this cocktail over the top! :D

      Reply

  10. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    I’ve heard about mezcal Traci, but I’ve never tried it myself. Your description makes it sound amazing and something I’d totally go for. As usual, your photos are making me want to reach into my screen and grab one of those glasses! Thanks for sharing this one. It will surely get on the cocktail list at our house soon. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Oh my, Liz.. then we should compare recipe notes! I’d love to hear the ingredients you like to use with mezcal! I hope you enjoy it Liz!

      Reply

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