Mezcal, tequila’s smokier cousin, gets its rustic ancestral character from the roasting of the piña (the heart of the agave). The Carreño family has been producing artisanal mezcal in Oaxaca since 1904, a legacy that Ivan Carreño, an Arizona resident, is now sharing north of the border. Ivan, along with his longtime friend Abel Arriaga, has been spearheading its distribution in the States and racking up awards along the way, including Best Mezcal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Their latest launch is Mezcal NARAN with a flavor profile designed to shine in mixed drinks. Look for it on menus at acclaimed restaurants and bars, including James Beard award nominee Little Rituals in downtown Phoenix. “With a mezcal as delicious as NARAN, you want a cocktail with fully incorporated, balanced flavors,” notes beverage impresario and Little Rituals co-owner Aaron Defeo. To create the Moment of Zen, he gave careful thought to the complementary nuances of supporting ingredients.
“Mezcal has a really pleasing spice,” he explains. “It’s like cinnamon bark, so using cinnamon in mezcal cocktails plays really well.” To incorporate those warm back notes, he lightly sweetens his libation with a house simple syrup lightly infused with Herbes de Provence and toasted cinnamon. Mezcal’s herbaceous spice is further underscored with Galliano, an Italian liqueur comprised of a secret blend of more than 30 botanicals. “It has an herbal, yet sweet, flavor profile and a vanilla note that pairs really well with the mezcal and cinnamon.” To round out the cocktail, he adds a favorite sherry-based Spanish vermouth. “You taste cinnamon, thyme and even a bit of red fruit. It brings dryness, brightness, and a little bit of extra acidity,” says Defeo. “All the components fit the archetype that we use here at Little Rituals to create multi-layered, complex cocktails.”
To try this wonderful cocktail be sure to make a reservation on Little Rituals website!
THE RECIPE
1.5 oz Mezcal NARAN
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz Liquore Galliano L’Autentico
.5 oz Gonzalez Byass La Copa Vermouth Extra Seco
.5 oz herbed cinnamon syrup (see note)
Lemon peel and fresh thyme, for garnish
Filled a cocktail shaker with cubed ice. Add all ingredients except garnish. Shake vigorously and strain into a tall glass filled with pebble ice. Twist the lemon peel over the drink to express the oils. Garnish with peel and a sprig of fresh thyme.
Note: Defeo uses a 2:1 ratio of cane sugar and water for Little Ritual’s herbed cinnamon syrup. When making it at home, look for high-quality, fragrant cinnamon sticks and dried herbes de Provence with lavender.
Written by Christina Barrueta
Photographed by Luke Irvin
