#liqeuer

St. Germain, Tequila, Mezcal and a touch of citrus. Sounds like heaven. Tastes even better.

Came across this masterpiece of a recipe courtesy of St. Germain and finally decided to give it a shot.

This is what the recipe calls for:

1 1/2 parts Silver Tequila 1/2 part Mezcal 1 part St Germain 1/2 part Lime Juice 3/4 part Grapefruit Juice

This is how I made it:

• I actually made two two versions of this cocktail, utilizing two of my favorite silver tequilas; Fortaleza Blanco and Casa Noble Crystal Blanco. Neither bottle will break the bank and they both have everything you look for in a great silver tequila. The Casa Noble is even certified USDA Organic for all the "healthy" drinkers out there.

1.5 oz in this cocktail

• For the mezcal, I used Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, which is also a 100% Organic Mezcal that is completely produced in a single village, allowing them to use ancient techniques to craft their mezcal. The result is an amazingly smooth mezcal that carries with a long, soft finish. Del Maguey describes their Mezcal as having "a nose of fruit aromatics, a hint of honey, vanilla and roast agave; the palate offers ginger,cinnamon, burnt sandalwood, banana and tangerine." The mezcal will add a hint of "smokyness" to your cocktail as well as accentuating and bringing out the flavors of your silver tequila. .25 oz in this cocktail

• And for the St. Germain, well, I used St. Germain. Although there are other elderflower or herbal liqueurs that can be substituted, nothing can match the elegant taste and aroma that St. Germain offers a well crafted cocktail. The St Germain will act as your sweetener in this cocktail, since the recipe doesn't call for any gomme syrup or simple syrup. If you're looking for an organic substitute, use Thatcher's Organic Elderflower Liqueur. 1 oz in this cocktail

• ALWAYS use fresh squeezed lime juice .5 oz in this cocktail

• The original recipe calls for grapefruit juice. I went ahead and used freshly squeezed Ruby Red Grapefruit for the cocktail with the Fortaleza tequila, and then opted to use Blood Orange in the cocktail with the Casa Noble. .75 oz in this cocktail 

If desired (and you should), rim your glass with a combination of sea salt, chili powder and a touch of cayenne pepper. 

Combine all of the ingredients and shake well before straining into your rimmed glass with fresh ice. 

THE RESULTS:

Two amazingly well balanced cocktails perfect for any occasion. 

Both Tequilas worked wonderfully for this cocktail and The VIDA Mezcal brought just enough "earth" to really boost the tequila flavors. Using the St. Germain as the sweetening agent provided a nice crisp balance to the spirits, offering a great aromatic quality to the drink as well. Just tart enough from the lime juice and ruby red grapefruit in one, and blood orange in the other for something a little bit sweeter. Using the sea salt, chili powder and cayenne pepper to rim the glass also took the drink to a higher level. All in all, one of my new favorites!

So here it is: The Pastinaca, {cock•tail}ored edition:

1.5 oz Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila .25 oz Del Maguey VIDA Mezcal 1 oz St Germain Elderflower Liqueur      *Thatchers Elderflower for a 100% Organic cocktail .5 oz Freshly squeezed Lime Juice .75 oz Freshly squeezed Blood Orange