Mezcaletti

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Cocktail History

The Mezcaletti is a modern cocktail that was created in 2015 by Richard Boccato at Dutch Kills in New York City, New York. The recipe is known for its surprising amount of depth, especially given that it’s made with just three ingredients: mezcal, Meletti Amaro, and orange bitters.

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.

Meletti Amaro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a blend of herbs, spices, citrus, and botanicals, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bittersweet, herbal flavor.

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.

Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Sombra Joven Mezcal
• 🔗 Meletti Amaro
• 🔗 Woodford Reserve Orange Bitters

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.

Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.

Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

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

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
• 🔗 Dorothy Thorpe Roly Poly Old Fashioned Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Light golden brown color

• Aroma: Bright citrus and earthy mezcal smokiness

• Taste: Slightly smoky mezcal followed by the herbal and gently bitter essence of the amaro

• Finish: More amaro bitterness with a hint of citrus

Kendall’s Take
“This cocktail leans into some very bold flavors with its combination of mezcal and amaro, creating a drink that’s deeply earthy and complex. The touch of citrus brightens things up just enough to keep everything balanced while still letting those strong ingredients shine. I’d call the Mezcaletti the kind of cocktail that feels a little adventurous—great for more experienced imbibers who enjoys spirits-forward drinks with a lot of character.”

Recipe

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