Mexican Manhattan

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – Recipe Inspiration

What are your favorite images during the holidays? Mine? Candles. I rarely light them but at Christmas. This year, in the midst of many storms, it seems particularly important to illuminate the darkness… Light a candle.

As I have prepared for the holidays this year, I hearken back to Christmases past, the decorating, the candles lit, the crackling fireplace, the Christmas cocktail. Though Mark and I now live hundreds of miles from our families, we try to create special moments with perhaps less time and energy spent than in the past. After all, we are now two.

So, lighting a candle (or a few), adding some twinkly lights, setting a pretty table, and eating and drinking merrily are still very present at Andersen casa. There is, however, no roaring fire. In the land of perpetual summer, a fireplace seems superfluous.  😆

The inspiration for Mexican Manhattan or South-O-the-Border Sidecar? came from a tiny bottle with a dropper – molé bitters. You probably know I adore Mexican flavors, and I incorporate them into my Ancho and Chocolate BBQ Sauce with Mexican Meatballs and my sous vide duck.

The chocolate, chile, citrus combo is pretty irresistable! I took those flavors and combined them in this beautiful variation on a classic cocktail. Only you can decide whether it will be bourbon or brandy…

Mark and I love bourbon. I was slow to warm up to this complex spirit… He, on the other hand, loves it “neat” with his cigars on Sunday. He slowly won me over.

However, brandy is a lovely alternative. I use brandy in my Donner and Blitzen: A Ginger Brandy Cocktail. It yields a deeper red color, and a festive and different flavor. Which is your preference?

📋 Ingredients Notes

• bourbon or brandy – Don’t go to the bottom shelf, but it doesn’t need to be fancy!
• orange liqueur – I love this blood orange liqueur. You can substitute Grand Marnier or triple sec.
• chocolate chile liqueur – There are many brands, but this chocolate chile liqueur is outstanding!
• mole bitters – My favorite is homemade (recipe someday!), but Bitterman’s mole bitters is excellent.

🔪 Instructions

1. Add first 3 ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass. Add several dashes of bitters. Garnish if desired. Enjoy!

This festive cocktail comes together in about 5 minutes. SERIOUSLY. My husband made me one tonight… in 5 minutes. I ought to quantify that by saying garnishes can take practice if you’re not accustomed to making them.

You will need a cocktail shaker, bourbon or brandy, a blood orange liqueur (ie. Mixologist Collection Blood Orange Liqueur), Chocolate-Chile Liqueur (for example, Villa Roma Liqueur Cioccoloto Peperoncino), and molé bitters (ie. Bitterman’s). The ingredients get a vigorous shake, a pour into a beautiful (please)  😀 glass, and a garnish of orange. Yes, it’s gorgeous and festive! Light a candle or two, and enjoy one with your loved one. I promise it’s special!