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Cocktail History
The Show Me State is a modern cocktail that was created by Robert Sachse at 151 in New York City, New York. Named for after the nickname for the state of Missouri where Sachse is originally from, it started out as a variation of the Jungle Bird that eventually became this refreshing slushie-style drink made with mezcal mixed with lots of citrus and simple syrup.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Orange Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with oranges, sugar, and brandy or rum. We used Naranja Orange Liqueur because it has a rich, sweet citrus taste. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Triple Sec Syrup in place of the orange liqueur.
Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of an orange. We used freshly squeezed orange juice.
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 Del Maguey Vida Mezcal because it has a palatable mezcal flavor with notes of ginger, cinnamon, and tangerine. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Mezcal in place of the mezcal.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Lime Wheel: This is a lime slice that has been cut into a circular 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.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut citrus into slices or wheels. 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.
Blender: This is used to blend up ingredients. We used the Cuisinart SPB-7CH SmartPowder Electronic Bar Blender.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the AhfuLifeAmerican Flag Cocktail Pick Set.
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Tasting Notes
The Show Me State has faint citrus aromas and a flavor that prominently features sweet orange with touches of earthy mezcal that come forward on the finish.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Though not exactly a mezcal lover’s holy grail, this cocktail does highlight the spirit in a very accessible way, and even though we both expected not to like such a sweet concoction all that much, we were both in awe of how well balanced and crushable the Show Me State ended up being.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“This drink is incredibly palatable, and I was a bit surprised by that. First off, it has mezcal, which I personally love, but it can certainly make a drink challenging if not used correctly. Secondly, its main spirit is actually orange curaçao, and that’s enough to make something sickly sweet, especially on top of plenty of orange juice and simple syrup. The recipe turned out delicious though with its sweet and fresh orange notes being featured prominently with a light backing of mezcal. It’s far from complex, but it’s totally crushable.”
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“At the time of writing the tasting notes for this cocktail, it’s been consistently in the 90s here in Wisconsin, which is unseasonable for us. I say that because it makes this drink that much better to me right now; the blended, frozen template is a welcome thirst-quencher. Even with a mezcal base, which I usually avoid, the Show Me State manages to be a pretty delicious and refreshing sip for summertime. I could totally see this being a hit at a pool bar on July 4th.”
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.
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 2024-10-03.
Show Me State
The Show Me State is a modern cocktail that was created by Robert Sachse at 151 in New York City, New York. Named for after the nickname for the state of Missouri where Sachse is originally from, it started out as a variation of the Jungle Bird that eventually became this refreshing slushie-style drink made with mezcal mixed with lots of citrus and simple syrup.
Ingredients
Method
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Add orange curaçao, orange juice, mezcal, lime juice, simple syrup, and cubed ice to a blender.
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Blend for 10-15 seconds until smooth.
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Pour into a highball glass.
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Garnish with lime wheel and American flag cocktail pick.
