Posted By Marshall on April 13, 2009

Mixology Monday is back and this month we’re hosted by Tristan Stephenson over at the Wild Drink Blog.  Tristan’s edict was to take a classic cocktail and put a twist on it that makes the new version superior to the old.  He also requested for us to tell our favorite song to do the twist to – ACDC’s Back in Black.

The first thing that popped in my head when thinking about twists was my Chichicapa Margarita.  It is simply a margarita with either the addition of a smoky mezcal or a complete replacement of tequila with the mezcal.  But to be honest, I love the addition of the smokiness and don’t know if I’ll make a regular margartia for myself again.

Chichicapa Margarita
2oz Del Maguey Chichicapa mezcal
1oz fresh lime juice
.5oz Contreau
1 Tbls agave syrup

Shake everything with ice and strain into a chilled glass.  Or if you want, strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.

The second twist a little more obscure.  One evening while sitting at The Gibson, one of their wonderful bartenders, Tiffany Short, whipped up a drink for me when I wasn’t sure what I wanted.  That drink was an Old Pal.

Old Pal
1oz Rye Whiskey
.75oz Campari
.75oz Sweet Vermouth

-Stir with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass.

For my twist, I decided to take the spicey, bitter, deep flavor of the Old Pal and make it lighter yet still packed with flavors.  I simply twisted the original ingredients by replacing them with lighter versions of themselves.

New Acquaintance
1oz Bourbon [I used Bernheim - a Wheat Whiskey instead of bourbon, Maker's Mark would be a fantastic choice!]
.75oz Aperol
.75oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth

-Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The nose is reminisant of mellon and citris.  You taste the bourbon which is rounded out by a bitter citrus and a roundness from the Bolin.  It is light sweet and flavorful.  Certainly a new twist on a classic cocktail.

Thanks again to Tristan for hosting this month!  I can’t see what the other folks out there come up with!

Don’t forget to check out my Templeton Rye give-away!!!  There’s still another week to enter!

Categories: Aperol, Bourbon, Campari, Cointreau, Mezcal, Mixology Monday, Recipes, Tequila, Vermouth
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