This months MxMo is absinthe, a increasing favorite of mine. I love the complexity of it. It adds beautiful layers to any cocktail.....if done right. The Sazerac, the Corpse Reviver #2, and the Money Gland are all favorites that when mixed correctly the flavors of the absinthe dance on your tongue. Where those classics are based on subtlety I went a different way with this cocktail. I went complex, not with ingredients but with flavor. I wanted to create a layered cocktail that would take a moment to taste everything. I took some of the more distinctive flavors in the cocktail world and blended them together for what I think a very interesting cocktail.Starting off with one of the less used spirits in bars today, the base of this cocktail is Sombra Mezcal. This is a well balanced mezcal, it has a really nice smokey characteristic on the front but a nice smooth finish of a good tequila. To combat the big flavor of the mezcal, I brought in one of the newer liquors that has won its way onto many bars shelves, St. Germain. If you haven't had this magical elixir yet, its a very light yet sweet french elderflower liqueur. And for just a touch more complexity I added a few dashes of St. Georges Absinthe Verte. Again, if you've missed out on this one, run out and grab a bottle. Its from St George Distilling which brings you the Hanger 1 line of vodkas. What they did with this absinthe is make a much better representation of a well blended spirit. It still has the rather large anise front but it doesn't end there like some of the more common absinthe's out there. There are many many more layers of flavors from the various herbs used. Then i tie it all together with a little fresh lime juice and a dash of simple syrup, and TaDa! The Smoking Saints Cocktail!
The Smoking Saints Cocktail
1.5 oz Sombra Mezcal
1 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liquor
2 dashes St. George Absinthe Verte
Juice from 1/2 a lime
.5 oz simple syrup.
Add all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Enjoy the smoky goodness.
Thanks to Thinking of Drinking for hosting this month!
