Incorporating French sea salt into our Cinco de Mayo cocktail may seem strange, but we wanted to remind everyone of why we drink on May 5th. You see, the celebration isn’t for Mexican Independence (that’s September 16th if you wondered). It’s to celebrate the victory of standing your ground. It's to celebrate being proud of your home and your will to defend it. Citizens of Puebla, Mexico defeated a more dominant French army on the fifth of May in 1862. This is why we drink on Cinco de Mayo so let's raise our glass to the people of Puebla.
Here’s a cocktail recipe can be served in between the shots of tequila and endless amounts of tacos. We used Joven Mezcal paired with our seasonal, Grapefruit Fleur de Sel, for a refreshing combo of citrus and smoke.
HERE'S THE COCKTAIL:
BATTLE FOR PUEBLA
- 2oz Mezcal
- 1oz Grapefruit fleur de Sel
- 1/2oz Lime Juice
- Sparkling Water
Directions: Combine Mezcal, Grapefruit Fleur de Sel, and Lime juice in a shaker. Dry shake (meaning without ice) to combine and pour into a glass with ice and a splash of sparkling water.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEZCAL AND TEQUILA
The biggest legal differences between Mezcal and Tequila is this: Tequila has to be made from 100% Blue Agave from Jalisco, Mexico. Kinda boring huh? So Mezcal is a relative to tequila made in areas other than Jalisco but still in Mexico. For example, if the people of Puebla, Mexico wanted to whip up some spirit made with Blue Agave, they couldn't legally call it Tequila. However, if the people of Puebla wanted to make a mezcal inspired by the smoke settling after of the historic battle from 1862, they can do that. (And we would probably drink a lot of it.)
The real difference is that Mezcal has a spectrum of flavor that Tequila just doesn’t have. The rich smoky flavor offered by Mezcal is probably the most popular characteristics, but the uniqueness of each brand might be the most impressive. No two Mezcals are alike and that is good news for us, more flavours to explore.
How are you celebrating May 5th? Shots of tequila? Lots of tacos? Making signature cocktails with our mixers? However you celebrate, be sure to tag us in photos and share your recipes with us! Happy Cinco de Mayo!