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Cocktail History
The Latin Trifecta is a modern cocktail that was created by Jamie Bordreau at Canon Whiskey & Bitters Emporium in Seattle, Washington. He came up with the drink to pay homage to the romance language countries, which is why he added the complexity of bitter Cynar from Italy to its two base spirits: tequila, which is made in Mexico, and sherry, a fortified wine from Spain. He then paired them all with sweet orange flavors for balance.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then briefly aged to develop a balanced, slightly oaky flavor.
Cynar: This is a liqueur made in Italy with artichokes, herbs, spices, botanicals, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop an earthy, bittersweet flavor.
Sherry: This is a type of wine made with white grapes, water, and yeast, which are fermented, fortified with brandy, and then aged to develop a range of flavors, from dry and crisp to rich and sweet.
Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.
Orange Peel: This the peel of an orange that has been cut into a strip.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Red-brown color
• Aroma: Orange and fortified wine
• Taste: Fairy muted tequila flavor with a hint of Cynar’s herbal notes and nutty sherry
• Finish: Slight bitterness
Kendall’s Take: “Woof! I was intrigued but this recipe because I’d never tried Cynar before, but I ultimately found the Latin Trifecta to be way too bitter for my palate. I could certainly see it being a slow, contemplative sipper to the more serious imbibers out there, and I do think it does a good job of representing the three countries of origin in taste and feeling. If you’re a fan of Cynar, I’d say it’s worth whipping up.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Latin Trifecta
Description
The Latin Trifecta is a modern cocktail that was created by Jamie Bordreau at Canon Whiskey & Bitters Emporium in Seattle, Washington. He came up with the drink to pay homage to the romance language countries, which is why he added the complexity of bitter Cynar from Italy to its two base spirits: tequila, which is made in Mexico, and sherry, a fortified wine from Spain. He then paired them all with sweet orange flavors for balance.
Ingredients
Method
Add tequila, Cynar, sherry, and orange bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill mixing glass with cubed ice.
Using a bar spoon, stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Using a julep strainer, strain into a Nick & Nora glass.
Flame orange peel, then drop into glass.
