Spicy Passion Fruit Mezcalita

Name: Red Clay Mezcalita
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D0H0M
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. Red Clay Margarita Salt; 1½ oz. Doce mezcal; ¾ oz. fresh lime juice; ½ oz. passion fruit syrup; ½ tsp. Red Clay Spicy Peach Hot Honey; ¼ tsp. Red Clay Habanero Hot Sauce

Hot honey and mezcal lend hot and smoky depth to this riff on a classic margarita.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLEN FORT

By Fabiana Pinillos

Published on April 6, 2023

Charleston bartender Fabiana Pinillos created a spicy, passion fruit-flavored version of the mezcalita, the margarita’s smokey mezcal-laced cousin, a bold cocktail made for sipping alongside lively conversation. In fact, it was created for SAVEUR's inaugural SAVEUR Salon celebrating women founders in food. Tropical passion fruit syrup gets a zing of flavor with Red Clay’s Habanero Hot sauce, and Spicy Peach Hot Honey. Pinillos used Doce Mezcal.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. Red Clay Margarita Salt
1½ oz. Doce mezcal
¾ oz. fresh lime juice
½ oz. passion fruit syrup
½ tsp. Red Clay Spicy Peach Hot Honey
¼ tsp. Red Clay Habanero Hot Sauce

Instructions

Step 1

Rub the rim of a rocks glass with a lime. On a small plate, spread the salt, and dip the rim of the glass into it to coat.

Step 2

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the mezcal, lime juice, passionfruit syrup, hot honey, and habanero hot sauce. Shake well, then strain into the rimmed rocks glass over ice Serve immediately.