The Gin & Tonic and Vodka Tonic take up many of the actual property within the “and tonic” class, however this easy drink template is ripe for experimentation. Change up your base spirit, or enlist a singular tonic, and you’ll 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 in relation 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 Metropolis Condesa.
The lodge is situated in considered one of Mexico Metropolis’s most vibrant neighborhoods, the place good drinks are straightforward to seek out. So Cabuya does its half to make sure visitors and locals can rating high quality cocktails inside its doorways.
The Pechuga Tonic begins with pechuga mezcal, a kind 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 consists of 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’ve all kinds of spirits, and I’m very pleased 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 aside from extra frequent mezcal varieties, like espadin. And whereas Luna prefers utilizing tangerine juice to deliver a little bit extra sweetness to the drink, he says you may substitute fresh-squeezed orange juice with out altering the flavour an excessive amount of in the event you can’t simply discover tangerines the place you reside.
The Pechuga Tonic is brilliant and citrusy, with all the flavour notes you need in a tall drink. The mezcal gives a sturdy base for the opposite substances 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 wherever, however the Pechuga Tonic deserves a spot in your summer time rotation. It walks the proper line between fascinating craft cocktail and straightforward, DIY recipe you can also make at residence. You don’t even want shaker tins. When you’ve acquired the substances, you can also make the drink straight in your glass.
