APPLEBEE ’ S UNVEILS MEZCAL
COCKTAILS
DRINK CULTURE
Dragan Milivojevic and the Hellote
DRAGAN MILIVOJEVIC IS BAR MANAGER AT BACALAR , A NEW YUCATÁN-INSPIRED RESTAURANT IN AUSTIN , TX .
PHOTO CREDIT JESSICA ATTIE
The Hellote is Bacalar ’ s twist on a traditional Martini . I created it to elevate corn , which serves as the foundational ingredient in the Mayan culture and on Bacalar ’ s food menu . Elote means “ corn ” in Spanish ; corn is a unifying thread throughout the restaurant , from decor to dessert .
Starting with a base of blanco tequila infused with corn , the cocktail also features Nixta , a Mexican corn liqueur ; dry vermouth ; Cocchi Americano ; saline and orange bitters . It ’ s then garnished with a baby corn to drive home the corn-fluence .
|
WHAT I ’ M
DRINKING
NOW
|
PHOTO CREDIT : KASSANDRA KEYES ) |
HELLOTE
1 ½ oz . Carabuena Blanco Tequila infused with corn husks * ⅓ oz . Nixta corn liqueur ½ oz . Dolin dry vermouth ¼ oz . Cocchi Americano 2 dashes Saline 1 dash Orange bitters
|
Add all ingredients in a mixing glass . Fill with ice , and stir for 15 to 20 seconds . Pour in Nick and Nora glass . Garnish with pickled baby corn on toasted corn husk .
* For Corn-huskinfused tequila
|
750 ml . of Tequila Blanco 45 g . Baby corn husks 5 g . Corn silk
In a vacuum bag , add tequila and corn husks with corn silk . Vacuum seal and sous vide at 140 degrees for 90 minutes . Let cool and fine strain .
|
APPLEBEE ’ S UNVEILS MEZCAL
COCKTAILS
A sure sign that mezcal has hit the mainstream : Applebee ’ s in January announced the launch of three mezcal Margaritas . The Pasadena , CA-based chain , which operates 1,654 Applebee ’ s restaurants in the U . S ., partnered with Dos Hombres mezcal on its first-ever mezcal cocktails .
The lineup includes the Breaking Rock Rita , the Passion Fruit Mezcal Rita ; and the Classic Mezcal Rita . The cocktails , hand-shaken , poured tableside and served with a chilled shaker tin , are priced at $ 9 and available for a limited time .
Dos Hombres , founded in 2019 by actors Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston , uses Espadin agave from Oaxaca , Mexico , and traditional mezcal production methods . Applebee ’ s mezcal Margaritas also include Dwayne " The Rock " Johnson ' s Teremana tequila .
Other chain restaurants have been adding mezcal cocktails to their menus in the past year . For instance , Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão , with about 66 locations in the U . S ., in spring 2023 debuted the Yellowbird , made with Desolas mezcal , passion fruit , pineapple , Cointreau and La Marca prosecco . The 60−unit Firebirds Wood Fired Grill this past fall included a seasonal Orange Cinnamon Sour , with Fireball whisky , Los Vecinos mezcal , blood orange elixir and freshsqueezed lemon juice .
Mezcal Margaritas in particular offer a familiar flavor profile to help introduce guests to the smoky Mexican spirit . Bosscal Mezcal ’ s proprietary Mezgarita is the number-one mezcal cocktail in America , according to the brand . The Mezgarita can be found in more than 2,500 restaurants across the U . S ., including Buffalo Wild Wings , Carnival Cruise Lines , MGM Resorts , Regal Cinemas and Ruby Tuesday .
6 Cheers • Spring 2024 www . cheersonline . com