This is my kind of Mixology Monday theme. I don’t care how many times I get asked to do it locally or online I love the challenge of taking a lousy drink or ingredient and turning them high class. Thats why I am so excited about this month’s Mixology Monday theme Drink of Shame from Whitney of Tipicular Fixin’s. Lets start with a little story shall we? I came from an intense southern family of teetotalers. Most people I knew didn’t drink and wouldn’t be caught dead with one in their hand. My wine class in culinary school had opened the door to a world I’d never wanted to step foot in.I loved flavors though and wandered in anyway. When I turned 21 I was a budding wine nerd. Sadly I didn’t know what to order at the dive bars that made up all of Birmingham’s liquor scene. A few of my older friends took me to a karaoke joint for my 21st birthday . There were no menu’s and I had no idea what to order. I tried to remember drinks from songs or that my mother ordered when we were on vacation. It turned out the only two drinks I could name were the Margarita and the Tequila Sunrise. Back then I was a big lover of classic country so I ordered a Tequila Sunrise since I was about to sing the Alan Jackson cover. Of course years later I’d learn there was a world of flavor beyond craft beer and wine. Cocktails could be tasty and more than just high octane go go juice. I haven’t had one of my old go to slurps in about 4 years. The thing is it has the building blocks of a great drink. Heck it really just needs a dash of lime and or lemon to balance out the red stuff and a shake instead of a sugar float. So I wanted to do more than just fix my old friend. I wanted to Tikify him and really make him a bar top darling. I wanted to preserve some sweetness, and make it pop with orange flavor. I also layered some spirits for smoke and depth.

Tahitian Sunset
1 oz Mount Gay rum
¾ oz reposado tequila
¼ oz Del Maguey Vida mezcal (½ oz if you like it smokey)
½ oz Pierre Ferrand Orange Curacao
½ oz hibiscus grenadine
¼ oz falernum
¾ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz fresh orange juice
Dash Bittermen’s Burlesque Bitters

Shake with ice and pour into a footed pilsner unstrained. Garnish with Orange and lime peels along with a cherry.

The aroma is mellow and smells of orange, pomegranate, and wisps of green smoke. The flavor is very rich and rolls around ever changing. The falernum,orange, and grenadine make great playmates as the tequila and rum peak through. The dash of mezcal is essential to provide a funk that plays throughout the drink. Here’s a Pro Tip enjoy this one with salted peanuts. I found out by pure accident that they make a perfect pair.

Nostalgia sure is fun, but don’t get so caught up in it that you forget to make new memories to. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got a drink to drank. Until next time…

“You get Hammered America!” -JFL