Photo by Blake Bonillas
Mezcal has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. As tequila’s sweeter, smokier fraternal twin, it plays surprisingly well with others, lending earthy underpinning to many a memorable cocktail. The silky-smooth Magic Hat Trick at Citizen Public House, created by mixology maestro Chaz Enciso, makes a startlingly good case in point. Amber-colored and perfectly chilled, it combines three unlikely spirits – muscular mezcal, austere gin and soft, floral yellow Chartreuse – taking its name from a scoring term in hockey bestowed on a player who scores three times in one game. Enciso displays his own prowess here, adding tart lime juice, Peychaud’s bitters and amaro simple syrup (steeped with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla) to meld vegetal mezcal with herbal Chartreuse and the notes of cumin, coriander, cinnamon and clove found in Commerce gin. Tempting though it may be to gulp it down, this cool, elegant concoction deserves to be sipped and savored.
To make your own magic, combine 1 oz. mezcal, 1 oz. Commerce gin, ¼ oz. yellow Chartreuse, ¾ oz. amaro simple syrup*, ¾ oz. lime juice and 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a coupe, adding a grapefruit board (a peeled, diamond-shaped rind) for a slap shot of garnish.
*Combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, ¼ oz. Cardamaro, 1 vanilla bean (sliced down the middle, seeds removed for use), 1 cinnamon stick and
2 nutmeg seeds in a saucepan and bring to a simmer for 1-2 minutes until sugar is dissolved Cool and refrigerate remainder.
$12
Citizen Public House
7111 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale
480-398-4208
citizenpublichouse.com
