I have a slight infatuation with mezcal based beverages. Somewhere I had a drink in a restaurant and I have been experimenting ever since. Tequila and mezcal are both produced in Mexico from the agave plant, with the primary difference being the preparation. Tequila is made by steaming the plant while mezcal comes from slow roasting the agave hearts over open flame, resulting in a smoky liquor with depth of flavor and sweet notes of caramel and sometimes chocolate.
Mezcalita has been my favorite concoction so far, with the fresh citrus juices. You don’t have to rim the glasses with chili lime salt, but I would recommend it. In case you don’t have any, sea salt with chili powder is a fine substitute. I am including an ingredient list for two drinks and a list for when you are entertaining and need to have a pitcher (eight drinks). You can prepare the pitcher ahead and then just shake the individual drinks with ice before serving.
Mezcalita
2 drinks
3 oz. Mezcal
3 oz. fresh orange juice
1.5 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. orange liqueur
4 dashes orange bitters
chili lime salt for rimming
lime wedges for rimming
8 drinks (a pitcher)
12 oz. Mezcal (1 1/2 cups)
12 oz. fresh orange juice (1 1/2 cups)
6 oz. fresh lime juice (3/4 cup)
4 oz. orange liqueur (1/2 cup)
16 dashes orange bitters
Prepare two rock glasses by rubbing the lime wedges around the rim. Place the chile lime salt onto a flat plate and press the glass rims into the mixture. Fill the glasses 2/3 full with ice. In a cocktail shaker, add the orange and lime juices, the mezcal, the orange liqueur, and the orange bitters. Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard until the beverage is quite cold. Strain the mixture into the prepared glasses.
If you are mixing up a large amount for entertaining, combine the ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate. Shake individual drinks as you are serving.