It’s Happy Hour! We’re diving into cocktail balance, party fouls, and … livestock*? Then, as promised, we’re presenting two wild-card cocktails with an agave twist.
Ben’s got the “perfect” cocktail to wash away the Negroni from Tuesday: the Banana Frexicano. This smoky-sweet blend of agave and banana will have you dreaming of warm tropical nights. Best of all, no Campari! You like Mezcal, right?
Matthew, at Ben’s request, is bringing a kicked-down Margarita this week. It’s your standard tequila + orange liqueur + lime + salt but with some subtle twists to really let the Tequila shine.
*No cows or pigs were harmed in the recording of this podcast.
Too Long, Didn’t Listen(00:00) Opening
(01:13) Do cows fly?
(05:05) Matthew, the Elderflower Liqueur of parties
(07:00) Cocktail balance
(08:49) Flavor matters
(11:46) Flavor balance tips
(17:18) Cocktail: Banana Frexicano
(20:30) Mezcal
(23:25) Cocktail: Matthew’s Margarita
(27:28) Tequila
(31:22) Orange liqueurs primer
(33:40) Their grandpa goes on the run
(35:29) Closing
RecipesBanana Frexicano- 1 oz mezcal
- 1 oz cognac or brandy
- 1 oz banana liqueur (we used Giffard’s Banane du Bresil)
- Combine mezcal, cognac or brandy, and banana liqueur in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds to your desired dilution, then strain into a Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with a banana round on a cocktail pick if desired.
Margarita- 1.5 oz reposado tequila
- 0.75 oz lime juice
- 0.75 oz Cointreau
- 1 tsp agave syrup
- Pinch of salt
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until well chilled, and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
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Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
- Measuring tools
- OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
- OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
- OXO SteeL Double Jigger
- Shakers
- This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
- Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Small Weighted Shaking Tin
- Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Large Weighted Shaking Tin
- Mixing Glasses/Tins
- Viski Crystal Mixing Glass, 17 oz
- Pint glass: you don’t need a link for this do you?
- Peelers
- OXO Good Grips...