Mezcal Stalk Recipes

Steps:

• Spread some worm salt on a small plate. Moisten the rim of a short glass with water; dip in the worm salt. Fill with ice.
• Combine the mezcal, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice and agave in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with the dried pineapple and pineapple leaf.

Steps:

• Remove one wide strip of peel with a vegetable peeler from both the lime and orange.
• Combine the lime peel, orange peel, lime juice, mezcal and agave in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover and shake vigorously until the outside is very cold, about 20 seconds. Strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into a coupe glass. Garnish with a few drops of Angostura bitters. Top with a lime twist.

Steps:

• Divide the strawberries and basil between 2 large rocks glasses. Season with a pinch of salt. Using a cocktail muddler, muddle the strawberries and basil together until the strawberries are smashed and the basil has broken up.
• Add 1 1/2 ounces mezcal and 1/2 teaspoon agave to each glass. Fill each glass with ice, then top with club soda. Use a cocktail stirrer to mix.

Steps:

• Combine the mango pulp, agave syrup and three-quarters of the orange zest in a small saucepan. Using tongs, lightly char each bay leaf directly over the flame of a gas burner on high heat, 3 to 4 seconds. Add 2 of the toasted bay leaves to the mango mixture and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and let cool completely.
• Pour the mango mixture into a small pitcher, discarding the soaked bay leaves. Stir in the mezcal and orange and lemon juices. Add ice and stir until well chilled, at least 15 seconds.
• Combine the salt and remaining orange zest on a plate. Dip the rims of 4 glasses in water, then dip in the orange salt to coat.
• Pour 2 tablespoons grenadine into each prepared glass. Fill the glasses with ice, then pour in the cocktail. Top with seltzer and garnish with the remaining toasted bay leaves.

Steps:

• Up to 1 day before serving, make the batch. Pour chilled mezcal, chilled Lillet blanc, chilled simple syrup, celery bitters, and water into a 2-quart pitcher and stir to mix. Seal well, covering with plastic wrap if needed, and refrigerate.
• Up to 2 hours before serving, prepare celery and lemon juices and stir into pitcher mix. Reseal and return to refrigerator if not serving immediately.
• To serve, stir mixture well. Place a large ice cube in each rocks glass, then pour in cocktail and garnish with a small pinch of smoked salt and a lemon wheel, if desired.