Sweet and Smoky is the jest of this one. An intoxicating and powerful drink, its silky and sultry texture with its sweet and smoky vibe, allows one to forget the intoxication factor while experiencing summer’s luscious blackberry offerings.

Makes one drink

Ingredients

1 ounce tequila  blanca (*Espolon)
1 ounce mescal (*Del Maguey Minero)
1 ounce elderflower liquor
1  ounce Blackberry-Sage Hibiscus Syrup (recipe follows)
½ ounce lemon juiceSweet Smoke Sage Salt (recipe follows)
Blackberry & sage leaf  garnish
2 drops of Bittermans Burlesque bitters

Directions

Shake in a shaker filled with ice and strain into a martini glass or coup.  Garnish with a floating, fresh blackberry rolled in the Sweet Smoke Sage Salt and a fresh sage leaf laid over the top of the glass.

Blackberry-Sage Hibiscus Syrup

Makes 2 cups of syrup

Ingredients

1   cup water
¾  cup honey
1 tablespoon dried hibiscus flowers
3 tablespoons fresh sage leaves
¼ cup fresh blackberries

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan, gently whisk to incorporate honey.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and let infuse and cook for about 7-8 more minutes.  Take off heat and let cool completely.  Blend the mixture in a blender until smooth and strain so that a smooth and silky syrup is created.  Refrigerate.

Sweet Smoke Sage Salt

Makes about  ½ cup of salt

Ingredients

1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1 tablespoon smoked black salt ( coarse)
A few drops of Bittermans Burlesque Bitters

Directions

Using a mortar and pestle, grind the sage leaves, the lemon zest and the sugar until a granular powder is formed.  Add the salt and grind gently, only to incorporate the flavor and only to slightly grind up the salt.  Add the drops of bitters and mix well.  The final product should be a granular and wet sand like mixture.

*Espolon Tequila is a boutique brand of Tequila made in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.  It was started by an ex Herradura employee and has quickly become one of the best cocktail tequilas on the market, lesser known in the USA. This soft and silky tequila is a bit citrusy with some black pepper notes.

*Del Maguey is a brand that produces ORGANIC “single village” mescals in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Each village produces their own sub brand that is unique to their lands and their techniques, using ancient practices that the indigenous people have been using since before the Spanish conquest.  A distinct character results from each village.  The Minero sub-brand has a nose of flower essence, vanilla and figs with a burnt honey flavor and a bit of lemon.  Its deep and warm and sweet all the way to the finish.