Gun Metal Blue

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Cocktail History

The Gun Metal Blue is a modern cocktail that was created in 2015 by Mike Shain and Nicholas Bennett at Porchlight in New York City, New York. It calls for a mixture of mezcal, peach brandy, lime, cinnamon syrup, gentian root, and blue curaçao, which is what gives the drink its brilliant hue and made it an instance hit at the bar when it was initially added to the menu.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with fermented agave and yeast, which are distilled after roasting agave hearts in underground pits to develop a smoky, complex flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Blue Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with dried laraha orange peels, spices, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended, infused, and then dyed with food coloring to develop a sweet, citrusy flavor and bright blue color.

Peach Brandy: This is a spirit made with fermented peaches and yeast, which are distilled and then aged to develop a smooth, stone fruit flavor.

Suze: This is a liqueur made in France with gentian root, herbs, botanicals, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bitter, herbal flavor.

Orange Disc: This is the peel of an orange that has been cut into a circular shape.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Creyente Mezcal Joven
• 🔗 Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur
• 🔗 E&J Brandy VS Peach
• 🔗 Suze L’Originale

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Peeler: This is a handheld kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used for removing thin strips of peel from fruits and vegetables.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a shallow, wide bowl that’s used for serving shaken cocktails and sparkling drinks without ice.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
• 🔗 Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright blue color

• Aroma: Citrus and smoky mezcal

• Taste: Fairly tart taste that mixes orange, mezcal, and touches of peach

• Finish: Lingering agave and citrus

Kendall’s Take
“This striking cocktail certainly lives up to its name with its bold color. The smoky mezcal pairs beautifully with peach, and the generous splash of lime juice keeps the drink lively and tangy, while the blue curaçao adds both citrus sweetness and visual flair. To me, the Gun Metal Blue was very refreshing and just a little bit nostalgic for the era when colorful cocktails were everywhere in bars. If you’re looking for something eye-catching and full of bright flavor, this one is a great choice.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.