It was midnight, and I’d made a couple bad drinks. Felt like rewarding myself with a Scotch Cocktail. Maybe an Affinity. Is that a Scotch bottle at the back? No? Oh, it’s Smith and Cross. Damn, all the Scotch is in the Basement. Hm. What the hell.
1 oz Smith & Cross
1 oz Punt e Mes
1 oz Dry Vermouth
But what can I do to make it a bit more Scotchy? Oh, I know! This Mezcalero Mezcal is damn smoky. True, only 168 bottles were imported into CA, so maybe just a rinse on the glass (with the rest going directly into my mouth).
Huh, goddamn that’s tasty. I should email Craig, as it’s something he’ll like. Name? Name?
Oh, hahahaha, I know!
“Ashtray Heart”
“Somebody’s Had to Much to Think!”
I’ve been making this cocktail for a while when cocktail geeky or bartender type people ask me for a Mezcal, Tequila, or Agave “Dealer’s Choice Cocktail”. It’s just kind of fun to mess with people and not make a shaken citrus or fruit based cocktail. For obvious reasons, I usually just call it a “Death and Company” or “Phil Ward” style cocktail. However, checking with one of the bartenders at Death and Co, it turns out it isn’t actually a Death and Company cocktail. Damn. That meant I had to think of a name.
A guest the other night quite enjoyed it and suggested calling it the “Balthazar Cocktail”. Odd. The Donkey or the Getty? The Burro or the Ass? I didn’t ask, so I leave it up to you to make the call.
Balthazar Cocktail
1 1/2 oz El Tesoro platinum tequila
1/4 oz Benesin Mezcal
1/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse Liqueur
3/4 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
dash orange bitters
Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Squeeze orange peel over glass and discard.
