Martini Oaxaqueño (Mezcal Dirty Martini With Castelvetrano Olives)

Martini Oaxaque\u00f1o (Mezcal Dirty Martini With Castelvetrano Olives)
  • Yield:Makes 2 cocktails
  • Active time:5 minutes
  • Total time:5 minutes

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

This drink, slightly adapted from Cala in San Francisco, is really a hybrid of a martini and a mezcal margarita, made savory, rich, and somewhat salty with the addition of Castelvetrano olive brine. The cocktail is bright, briny, and refreshing, with a delicate touch of smoke.

Ingredients

  • 4 Castelvetrano olives, for garnish
  • 4 ounces (120ml) mezcal
  • 1 ounce (30ml) Mandarine Napoléon (see note above)
  • 1 ounce (30ml) fresh juice from 1 lime
  • 1 1/2 ounces (45ml) Castelvetrano olive brine (Divina brand preferred; see note above)
  • 4 dashes Bar Keep Fennel Bitters (see note above)

Directions

  1. 1.

    Chill 2 martini glasses. Thread 2 cocktail picks with 2 olives each.

  2. 2.

    Add mezcal, Mandarine Napoléon, lime juice, olive brine, and bitters to a cocktail shaker and fill 2/3 full with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into chilled glasses, garnishing each with a cocktail pick. Serve immediately.