Siesta Cocktail Recipe
Siesta Cocktail Recipe

Siesta

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Cocktail History

The Siesta is a modern cocktail that was created in 2008 by Katie Stipe at Flatiron Lounge in New York City, New York. Considered one of the earliest tequila-based recipes of the craft cocktail renaissance that started in the 2000s, it uses the agave spirit in a Hemingway Daiquiri-style template instead of rum and adds in a dash of the bitter Italian liqueur Campari for additional complexity.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Tequila Blanco: This is a spirit made with unaged agave and water. I used Piedra Azul Tequila Blanco.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Grapefruit Juice: This is the liquid juice of a grapefruit. I used freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, alcohol, and water.

Lime Wheel: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a wheel shape.

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.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I 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. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
$14.14 Amazon Prime

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 2025-01-15.

Siesta Cocktail Recipe

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

Appearance: Pale coral pink color

• Aroma: Fresh citrus with a hint of agave

• Taste: Refreshing and balanced mix of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors, with the tartness of grapefruit and lime complementing the earthy bite of the tequila

• Finish: Zesty, slightly bitter Campari notes

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: “I thought the Rome With A View was palatable for a Campari cocktail, but this one’s even more so. Granted very little of the bitter liqueur is used, but any time I see it on a list of ingredients, I’m skeptical of whether I will like it. The Siesta is a winner though, in my opinion. The Campari hides out just enough that you get to enjoy the other mix of flavors before a hint of its telltale taste comes through at the end. I would most certainly drink this again!”

Recipe

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

Sale
Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]
Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]
Hardcover Book; Simonson, Robert (Author); English (Publication Language); 176 Pages – 04/06/2021 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)
$13.26 Amazon Prime

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 2025-01-16.

Siesta

The Siesta is a modern cocktail that was created in 2008 by Katie Stipe at Flatiron Lounge in New York City, New York. Considered one of the earliest tequila-based recipes of the craft cocktail renaissance that started in the 2000s, it uses the agave spirit in a Hemingway Daiquiri-style template instead of rum and adds in a dash of the bitter Italian liqueur Campari for additional complexity.

Prep Time 3 mins Assembly Time 2 mins Total Time 5 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Servings: 1 Calories: 205 Best Season: Summer

Ingredients

Method

  1. Add tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, grapefruit juice, Campari, and cubed ice to a shaker.

  2. Shake for 10-20 seconds.

  3. Strain into a cocktail glass.

  4. Garnish with lime wheel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
How do I make this cocktail recipe non-alcoholic?

Use Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Agave Blanco Spirit in place of the tequila and Giffard Non-Alcoholic Bitter Syrup in place of the Campari to try a mocktail version of this drink.

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About The Author

Kendall is the creator of Novel Nightcaps, a mixology blog chronicling recipes she tries from her cocktail book collection.