Everybody has different tastes and preferences. This is why the option to buy swimwear separates rather than sets is so popular. Del Maguey, the leading artisanal Mezcal brand in the US, is another wonderful pick-and-choose proposition. Bottles can be mixed and matched based on the crowd you’re trying to impress. There are over 20 different expressions of mezcal available from its four collections: Vida, Village Tradiciones, Village Varietales, and Village Especiales.
While comparing and contrasting different expressions of a spirit is a fun way to start conversations when you entertain, according to director of brand education, Éva Pelczer, and LA’s Del Maguey Agave ambassador, Jennifer Oakley, you can also keep things simple with the Vida collection Classico and one or two that speak to you. From there, you can get creative by mixing up fresh riffs on Negronis, Old Fashioneds, and Margaritas. For sampling and discussion, Oakley and Pelczer recommend having a few of Del Maguey’s coveted sipping mezcals on hand such as the Chichicapa, Tobalá, and Santo Domingo Albarradas.
To get you started, here are some recipes that ensure your classic cocktails will not be the same old thing. Start making a splash now!
Vida-Rita
2 parts Del Maguey Vida Puebla
¾ parts lime juice
¾ parts agave syrup
1. Add ingredients to a shaker, and shake.
2. Pour over ice into a rocks glass.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.
Vida Old Fashioned
2 parts Del Maguey VIDA Puebla
¼ parts agave syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash Mole bitters
1. Build in a mixing glass, add ice, stir.
2. Pour over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
3. Garnish with an orange twist and grated cinnamon.
Vida Negroni
1 part Del Maguey Vida Puebla
1 part sweet vermouth
1 part red Italian bitter liqueur
1. Build in a mixing glass, add ice, stir
2. Pour over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
3. Garnish with an orange peel.
For more flavourful recipes, visit delmaguey.com/recipes.