The Curse of Tezcatlipoca
The weather's finally starting to warm up here in da Nort'woods, and I've been feeling the need for an exotic summer cocktail; something a little sweet, a little tart, and very aromatic. Basically, I wanted a Mojito that didn't suck, so I whipped up the following drink, based around Pisco, a Peruvian grape brandy, and AGWA, an herbal liqueur made from Bolivian Coca leaves. The result was, if I may toot my own horn a bit, proof positive that I have a certain knack for concocting well-balanced tropical libations (having interesting ingredients to work with sure doesn't hurt).
By the way, Tezcatlipoca was the Aztec god of night, the North, temptation, sorcery, beauty and war. Seemed apropos somehow...
8 fresh mint leaves
1.5 oz. Peruvian Capel Pisco Reservado grape brandy
3/4 oz. AGWA de Bolivia Coca Leaf liqueur
1 oz. 10 Cane Rum
1/2 oz. Trader Vic's Passionfruit syrup
1 oz. Fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/8 tsp. Absinthe or Pernod
Dash of Fee Bros. Grapefruit Bitters
Muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, then add all the other ingredients. Shake with 1 cup of crushed ice, then pour into a double Old-Fashioned glass and fill to the top with more crushed ice.
Update: I made a delicious variation of this drink tonight by substituting an ounce of Cachaça Ypioca for the 10 Cane Rum. Since this made it overwhelming South American in content, I decided to name it after the Incan Moon goddess: Secret of Ka-Ata-Killa.
Comments
If only i had that stuff lying around, i'd have you make me one next you come `round here. Well, except for the passionfruit syrup, `cause that's just gross.
Posted by: rone | May 22, 2008 6:20 PM
Sounds interesting. And I was delighted do discover that AGWA de Bolivia is actually already available in Washington State.
Posted by: Stevi Deter | May 22, 2008 7:05 PM
rone: I suspect you're lumping passionfruit syrup with passionfruit nectar. They're totally different; the syrup has a very mild flavor that's nothing like the much stronger nectar, which I don't happen to like either.
Stevi: I've even seen AGWA here in Northwestern Wisconsin, so they appear to have found a good distributor.
Posted by: Mr. Bali Hai | May 22, 2008 7:33 PM
I'd be making this ASAP, except there ain't a snowball's chance of finding the Pisco & AGWA in PA without an extraordinary amount of grief and frustration (And even then...)
Posted by: Dr. Bamboo | May 23, 2008 7:49 AM
I hear ya, Doc. I had to order both off the internet last year, and although AGWA is available locally, I still can't find Pisco around here.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | May 23, 2008 8:30 AM
Got me a bottle of AGWA, but I'm lacking passionfruit syrup and *gasp* out of limes!
So I'm experimenting with the AGWA instead. Hopefully will have something worth posting about soon. It is lovely, interesting stuff. As I hoped, it tastes similar to coca tea.
Posted by: Stevi Deter | May 23, 2008 10:23 PM
I'm looking forward to reading about your results, Stevi.
As for the passionfruit syrup, I think you could easily substitute an equal amount of simple syrup and a splash of fruit juice. As you know, there is no substitute for fresh limes. None. Nada.
Posted by: Mr. Bali Hai | May 24, 2008 9:05 AM