Mezcal - Spiced Maple - Bourbon - Lemon - A Dash of Bitters
Sliding from summer into the fall,
this boozy cocktail is the perfect drink to transition from one season into the next.
Highly recommended for those trying mezcal for the first time.
This trendy concoction will convert even the most orthodox drinkers.
Ingredients:
(makes one cocktail)
For the maple-spiced simple syrup:
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 star anise
2 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
For the cocktail:
1 1/2 ounces bourbon (like Maker's Mark)
1/2 ounce mezcal (like Del Maghey Vida)
3/4 ounce maple-spiced syrup
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
a dash of Angostura Bitters
Lemon twist, for serving
Instructions:
For the maple-spiced simple syrup:
In a small saucepan, combine maple syrup with spices and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight), and then strain into a clean container.
* Note - The maple-spiced simple syrup can be made up to 3 weeks in advance, and will make enough for 10 cocktails.
For each cocktail:
In a cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, mezcal, bitters, maple-spiced simple syrup, and lemon juice. Add ice and shake. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with lemon twist.