A few years ago, I wrote about another in-house creation the Black Mexicana. It came about when I was experimenting with liquorice syrup. I found it worked well with tequila. Monin liquorice syrup is now long gone. Clearly not many other mixologists shared the love (of it). Still I’ve now found liquorice liqueurs from Italy, so it’s back in my collection.
This new cocktail is really a modern, twist on the old classic the Black Russian. I think it’s more interesting and offers a more complex flavour profile.
Chilli with chocolate pairs well with tequila
For a while now, I have been experimenting with chilli and chocolate together. It is a flavour combination used in chocolate bars and even in my local Hotel Chocolat cafe where the hot chocolate with chilli is great.
So, I started with the slightly fiery Absolut peppar vodka. The chocolate comes in the form of dark creme de cacao. I also added Patron XO which was a liqueur made from a combination of tequila and coffee liqueur. So now with that product no longer in production, I’d simply use your own mix of equal quantities of Kahlua (or Tia Maria) and tequila. With 2 liqueurs, to balance it out a bit and add another flavour dimension and to stop it being too cloying, I went for a little lime juice.
I came up with this new cocktail in late 2021. The full recipe is
Black Mexicana #2
- 50 ml Absolut peppar vodka
- 35 ml Patron XO liqueur
- 25 ml dark crème de cacao
- 25 ml lime juice (halve this if you’re using concentrated juice out of a bottle)
I will need to rename this as it’s an unoriginal name I’ve already used. And it’s not even a twist on the same drink. It was created from a completely different direction.
Mexicology
I enjoy a little mexicology. Developing new cocktails based around tequila. Only in the last few years have I come to appreciate quality tequila. To avoid the same mistake I made, give all those mixto brands a swerve and only buy tequila which says 100% agave on the label. Don’t trust supermarkets either. They stock Jose Cuervo which is a mixto brand. Read my article on tequila quality to understand why this matters so much.
Tequila offers a range of ages. Blanco is the clear and lightest version – by perhaps, ironically is the one which gives you the biggest tequila hit. Then there are the golden versions labelled reposado – which means rested. Plus the premium anejo (aged) versions.
Try some ‘proper’ tequila and enjoy some new cocktails. And if you’re really brave, trade up to a mezcal brand. A smoky version of tequila also from the agave plant, grown in Mexico.
Happy mixing.