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Cocktail History
The Under The Volcano is a modern cocktail that was created in 2011 by Kyle Davidson in Chicago, Illinois. Believed to have been named for the 1947 novel by Malcolm Lowry, the drink starts with a few ingredients from the Last Word template, including lime and Chartreuse, but it swaps out the classic’s gin base for tequila and reaches for Cynar in lieu of maraschino liqueur before sweetening it all with a bit of agave syrup.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Tequila Añejo: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with blue agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged from one to three years in oak barrels. I used Camarena Añejo Tequila.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Cynar: This is a liqueur made in Italy with artichokes, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol.
Yellow Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, and alcohol.
Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener that is made from the fluid inside agave plants. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
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.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Golden yellow color
• Aroma: Herbal and agave notes
• Taste: Citrus and a combination of tequila, slightly bitter herbs, and tangy citrus
• Finish: Unique earthy, bitter notes
Kendall’s Take
“The Under The Volcano brings together a contemplative mix of flavors with tequila, lime, Chartreuse, and Cynar all sharing the stage. The agave and citrus provide a familiar backbone, while the herbal and bittersweet liqueurs add layers that make the drink feel a bit more adventurous. Cynar in particular leaves behind its distinctive finish that gives the cocktail its character. Overall, it’s an interesting combination that showcases how bold ingredients can come together in unexpected ways.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was found in the book Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
Under The Volcano
Description
The Under The Volcano is a modern cocktail created in 2011 by Kyle Davidson in Chicago. Inspired by Malcolm Lowry’s 1947 novel, it reimagines the Last Word with tequila, Cynar, lime, Chartreuse, and a touch of agave syrup for balance.
Ingredients
Method
Add tequila, lime juice, Cynar, Yellow Chartreuse, and agave syrup to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer, strain into a coupe glass.
