Cocktails O’ Clock: Wild Mexican Mule (Margarita)

It’s alive! ALIVE I TELL YOU!

OK, so that may be a little dramatic, but this cocktail came to me recently in a vision I can only describe as genius… Combining two great Tequila based drinks (the Tequila highball & Margarita) this cocktail creates a balanced Mexican themed cocktail with a crisp finish to it.

There are those out there who will be sick at the prospect of changing a margarita so much and still use the name, and to them I say only this: Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it…

Recipe:

1.5m Tequila

1m Fresh Lime Juice

½ measure Cointreau

Top up Ginger Ale

2 barspoons Cherry Brandy

7 drops Angostura Bitters

Garnish: Fresh Cherry, lime wedge & sugar rimmed glass…

Made by me, photographed by me, enjoyed by me… The Wild Mexican Mule…

Method:

1)      Using the lime wedge, wipe the rim of the glass and dip in sugar. Place the cherry on the rim (leave the stem on and have it lean away from the glass.

2)      Fill the glass with ice.

3)      In a shaker combine the tequila, lime and Cointreau.

4)      Shake well over ice and double strain into the glass.

5)      Top up with ginger ale.

6)      Garnish (finally) with the Angostura and cherry brandy.

The brandy should drift gently to the bottom of the glass, but should also pull the Angostura down with it, creating a cascading effect.  The sweetness in this drink comes from both the Cointreau and cherry brandy, but what really sets it apart is that it’s lengthened by the ginger ale, adding a slight spice to the drink, not to mention the Angostura weighing in with its trademark flavour.

This drink is a great little fusion that may not win all of you over but try it with your favourite brand of ginger ale and try different cherry liqueurs (or even take out the cherry and try an actual brandy instead, either way that’s the bit that adds the richness to drink).

Hopefully you like this cocktail as much as I do, leave a comment should you have any about it.

Until next time here’s a little something:

Fervent Shaker Fact of the Day:

There is a significant different between Fresh Lime Juice and Lime Juice Syrup. The fresh lime juice is always freshly squeezed from the fruit (the fresher the better). Whereas the syrup is a blend of water, juice and sugar (kind of like a lime flavoured sugar syrup). The best known brand of lime juice syrup is ‘Roses’ and is popular both here in the UK and across the pond in the USA.