Sierra Madre Sunrise
For the Crypsis box I made the “Sierra Madre Sunrise” cocktail, created by Elana Lepkowski, and made with mezcal, Aperol, lemon juice, club soda and in my case, chocolate bitters. This is a wonderful cocktail to try at home if you have never had either mezcal or Aperol. Mezcal is the oft misunderstood cousin of tequila. You should feel bad for mezcal, because I don’t think it has its own day like tequila and the others lucky spirits. Any spirit made from the agave plant can actually be considered a “mezcal”, so tequila is a form of mezcal which has far more restrictions on how and where it is made. Traditional mezcal is made by roasting the heart of the agave plant in underground wood-fired pits, which lends it the distinctive smoky taste. Fine mezcal is as complex, smooth and refined as fine bourbon or cognac.
The Sierra Madre Sunrise by Elana Lepkowski
What about Aperol? We will have to explore the Italian “Amaro” liqueurs in detail one day, but by way of introduction I will explain that the Italians are so serious about their food, which we all know is incredible, that they have special drinks which help “prime” the stomach before the meal, called aperitifs, and drinks to help digest the meal afterwards, called digestifs. Aperol is an aperitif, similar to Campari, which I love and have written about before, but lighter in color and flavor. In the Sierra Madre cocktail, it compliments the mezcal exceptionally well. The chocolate bitters bring out the orange flavors of the Aperol. Combined with the lemon, and diluted by the sparkling water, the drink becomes a perfect summer sipper. It’s a great introduction to these spirits because all the individual flavors are rendered more subtle and smooth.
Sierra Madre Sunrise by Elana Lepkowski
1 ounce mezcal, such as Del Maguey Vida
3/4 ounce Aperol
1/2 ounce lemon
2 to 3 dashes of either Angostura or chocolate bitters
3 ounces club soda
Shake all but the soda together with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Top with soda and garnish with a lemon peel.