The Gin & Tonic and Vodka Tonic take up many of the actual property within the “and tonic” class, however this straightforward drink template is ripe for experimentation. Change up your base spirit, or enlist a singular tonic, and you may drastically alter the result of the cocktail.
In recent times, we’ve witnessed the rise of Tequila Tonics and Rum Tonics, and we’ve seen craft tonics proliferate, giving drinkers a seemingly limitless arsenal relating to mixing spirit with tonic. However such experimentation hasn’t but reached the end line, as evident by the Pechuga Tonic, a refreshing cocktail served at Cabuya, the restaurant and bar that sits atop the newly opened Andaz Mexico City Condesa.
The resort is positioned in one in every of Mexico Metropolis’s most vibrant neighborhoods, the place good drinks are straightforward to search out. So Cabuya does its half to make sure company and locals can rating high quality cocktails inside its doorways.
The Pechuga Tonic begins with pechuga mezcal, a sort of mezcal during which a uncooked hen or turkey breast is hung contained in the nonetheless throughout distillation — pechuga means “breast” in Spanish. From there, it contains Cointreau, peach liqueur, tangerine juice, and tonic water.
The Pechuga Tonic is impressed by the flavors of Mexico, explains Rocco Luna, the Bar Supervisor at Andaz Mexico Metropolis Condesa. “I believe we have now all kinds of spirits, and I’m very happy with the flavors we’re capable of finding in Mexico. I imagine this cocktail encapsulates the freshness and flavors of the nation in a easy however flavorful drink.”
Luna acknowledges that it’s comparatively unusual to function pechuga mezcal in cocktails, as many individuals decide to sip the spirit straight. However he likes that its advanced, savory taste units it other than extra widespread mezcal varieties, like espadin. And whereas Luna prefers utilizing tangerine juice to carry a bit extra sweetness to the drink, he says you’ll be able to substitute fresh-squeezed orange juice with out altering the flavour an excessive amount of for those who can’t simply discover tangerines the place you reside.
Get the Pechuga Tonic recipe
The Pechuga Tonic is vivid and citrusy, with all the flavour notes you need in a tall drink. The mezcal offers a sturdy base for the opposite components to face on, and simply when the Cointreau begins to guide you into the route of a Margarita, the peach liqueur and tangerine pull issues again into a brand new route. The bubbly tonic lends a touch of bitterness to spherical out the flavors, and it lengthens the drink for further refreshment.
The Gin & Tonic isn’t going anyplace, however the Pechuga Tonic deserves a spot in your summer time rotation. It walks the right line between attention-grabbing craft cocktail and straightforward, DIY recipe you can also make at residence. You don’t even want shaker tins. When you’ve acquired the components, you can also make the drink immediately in your glass.
