This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Living La Vida is a modern cocktail that was created in 2019 by Mimi Burnham at Bar Celona in New York City, New York. The recipe starts with an agave base of both mezcal and tequila, mixes in herbal Amaro Montenegro as well as lemon juice and saffron syrup for sweetness, and tops it all off with bitter tonic water.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged in an underground pit lined with wood. We used Creyente Mezcal Joven because it has pleasantly smoky notes with a hint of fruit. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Mezcal in place of the mezcal.
Amaro Montenegro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a secret blend of forty botanicals, spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Saffron Syrup: This is a sweetener made with saffron, sugar, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s sous vide recipe.
Tequila Blanco: This is a spirit made with unaged agave and water. We used Dulce Vida Spirits Organic Tequila Blanco because it has a sweeter agave taste and spicy finish. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Agave Blanco Spirit in place of the tequila.
Tonic Water: This is a carbonated water that has been infused with quinine. We used Fitch & Leedes Indian Tonic Water.
Lemon Slice: This is a slice of lemon that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-08.
Tasting Notes
The Living La Vida features mixed aromas of lemon and mezcal, a refreshingly bitter quinine flavor made up of the mezcal’s earthiness, the amaro’s herbal notes, and a touch of floral, and an aftertaste that ends with the lingering bitterness from the tonic and amaro.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Usually you see gin mixed with tonic water, so we weren’t sure what to expect of a recipe that swapped out the botanical spirit for both mezcal and tequila. Unfortunately, the Living La Vida ended up being much too bitter and smoky for her palate, but Alex enjoyed its unique combination of flavors. Sipping on this is a fascinating experience worth having at least once.
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐
“I’m not one for bitter drinks as is yet, and I did not expect this one to be quite as bitter as it was when I first sipped it. Mezcal is already a tough swallow for me, and I found it to be very prominent in this recipe even with the tonic water. Usually, it’s sweetened with the other ingredients in the drink, but the Living La Vida only kept getting more and more bitter. This admittedly wasn’t my favorite, but if you like bitter beverages, it might do the trick for you.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
![Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41J8UixQqLL._SL75_.jpg)
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-08.
Living La Vida
The Living La Vida is a modern cocktail that was created in 2019 by Mimi Burnham at Bar Celona in New York City, New York. The recipe starts with an agave base of both mezcal and tequila, mixes in herbal Amaro Montenegro as well as lemon juice and saffron syrup for sweetness, and tops it all off with bitter tonic water.
Ingredients
Method
-
Add mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, lemon juice, saffron syrup, tequila, and cubed ice to a shaker.
-
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
-
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.
-
Top with tonic water.
-
Garnish with lemon slice.
