El Conde
This is the “root drink” for this month’s recipes. It was one of those cocktails that I thought up, tried, and loved right away! This spirit-forward, bittersweet drink is adjacent to two well-known agave-based Negroni riffs: the Rosita (tequila, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, aperitivo liqueur) and the Oaxacan Negroni (mezcal, sweet vermouth, Campari). For a little extra bitterness, opt for a grapefruit twist; orange works great here, too.
INGREDIENTS
¾ oz. mezcal
¾ oz. reposado tequila
¾ oz. rosa aperitivo wine
¾ oz. aperitivo liqueur
4 drops saline
Garnish: grapefruit or orange twist
ABV LEVEL
Combine all in a mixing glass. Stir for 20 seconds. Strain into a double rocks glass over a big cube. Garnish with a grapefruit or orange twist (grapefruit will impart a more bitter flavor, but I like that here).