A go-to mezcal cocktail – the smoked marasca (a bartaco copycat recipe)!
This mezcal cocktail is my go-to from bartaco.
It’s a little smoky, a little spicy, and a little sweet. I once nearly lost my cool because they took it off the menu. But, because I’m (generally) a level-headed person, I did not. Instead, I asked when/if it might return to the menu because it is a FAVORITE of mine. The manager kindly let me know that it may return (which it did!) and then offered to whip it up because they still had the ingredients on hand.
I mean seriously, how freaking nice of her! I stand by my bartaco fam, they’re the best.
Back to the drink! It’s the perfect complement for any taco night, and I loved ordering it so so much from bartaco that I found a way to make a version at home!
I’ll be the first to tell you this is not the exact same because of one ingredient. bartaco uses a smoked pepper agave, and because I’ve been trying to make do with what I have at home, I’ve been making my own version with an ancho chile honey. It’s been super tasty, but definitely not the same! Eventually, I’ll whip up my own smoked pepper agave so that it’s more like the original.
And, if you’ve got the ingredients or you’re apt to go grab them to try it, give it a go! It’ll end up being more like the original, though if you’re looking for something a little quicker to whip up, try this version first.
Mezcal cocktail: bartaco Smoked Marasca copycat recipe
1 oz lime juice
1 oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur
3/4 oz mezcal
3/4 ancho chile honey (1/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder, 3 T honey, 3 T hot water)
3 Luxardo cherries
1. Make your ancho chile honey. This is, essentially, a spicy honey simple syrup. Add all ingredients to a sealable glass jar and shake until combined.
2. Add all ingredients to a shaker (your lime juice, mezcal, Luxarod, and your spicy honey simple). Add ice and shake until chilled (about 20-30 seconds).
3. Strain into a rocks or highball glass. Add ice and garnish with cherries. Enjoy!
I also used a jalapeño salt on the rim, but that’s totally optional. Try just using a grainy sea salt like Maldon with a little lime juice to help it stick. It makes a huge difference in flavor if you’re looking to salt it up.
If you’re yearning for a night at bartaco again or if you happen to be staying in/only ordering take-out, might I recommend giving their taco packs a try? We’ve been ordering them religiously since March and I cannot recommend them enough. It’s like bringing the party home! We even pop their Spotify playlist on the speaker and pretend we’re enjoying a night out. You’ve got to make the best of it, right?
Where do you stand on the hate-like-love scale for mezcal? I LOVE it, but I know it can be incredibly divisive! The smoky flavor isn’t for everyone (and that’s totally okay!).
ps. Did you catch the subtle fact that I’m using bartaco glasses here?! Thank you to my friends at bartaco for the merch – it actually *almost* felt like I was there again, sitting on the patio by the fire.
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