Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner, so let’s spice-up your festivities with Tequila.
Here are 10 Liberations Carefully Crafted by the King & Queen of Crown Town’s Cocktail Scene.
Meet Amanda Britton: Originally from New Jersey, Amanda has been shaking her way through the Queen City for over 6 years now. She has a plethora of knowledge when it comes to Charlotte’s craft beer & cocktail scene and absolutely loves to experiment with a variety of ingredients to update classic mixes and bring forgotten drinks back to life.
Say hello to Larry Suggs: Larry apprenticed under world-renowned mixologist, Bob Peters, and is that rare breed, a born & raised Charlottean who has witnessed the Queen City transform throughout his life to this glorious place we all call home. Larry’s passion for Crown Town’s craft beer & cocktail industry runs deep, as he has been the roots behind many Charlotte-based brewhouses, restaurants and bars since his early 20’s.
The following 10 cocktails have been carefully designed by two of the finest Charlotte-based bartenders in the industry.
Rather than trying to recreate the wheel on every drink, Amanda and Larry often look towards the past for inspiration. You’ll find that they create inventive twists to traditional recipes that will give you the feeling you’re drinking a restructured spirit that has been around for decades.
The Classico
2 oz Blanco Tequila
½ oz Cointreau
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
Shake & strain over fresh ice into glass with salted-rim.
Optional: Garnish with a lime wheel.
Mi Amore
2oz Reposado Tequila
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Strawberry (muddled)
½ oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
2 oz Lenny Boy Strawberry Kombucha
Shake & strain over fresh ice.
Top with Lenny Boy Strawberry Kombucha.
Optional: Garnish with fresh Strawberry.
Hombre
2 oz Blanco Tequila
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Melbec
Shake and strain over fresh ice.
Using the back of a spoon, layer Malbec onto top of drink.
Optional Garnish: Orange wheel.
Honeybear
2 oz Anejo Tequila
½ oz Krupnikas Spiced Honey Liqueur
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
Stir & strain into coupe glass.
Optional Garnish: Serve with Honeycomb that’s dripping with fresh Honey.
Fire and Ice
2 oz Reposado Tequila
½ oz Blood Orange Liqueur
2 Cucumber Slices (muddled)
2 Jalapeno Slices (lightly muddled)
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Agave Syrup (1:1)
Shake & strain over fresh ice into glass with salted-rim.
Optional Garnish: Cucumber slices & fresh Jalapeño sprinkled with Salt.
Don’t Be Salty
2 oz Blanco Tequila
2 oz Salted Watermelon Juice
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Orange Half Wheel (muddled)
½ oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
Shake & strain over fresh ice into glass.
Optional Garnish: Fresh Watermelon sprinkled with Salt.
Ciderita
2 oz Reposado
3 oz Good Road Cider
¼ oz Creme de Violette
¼ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Stir in glass with ice.
Optional Garnish: Fresh Lavender sprig.
Oaxacan Margarita
2 oz Mezcal
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Agave Syrup (1:1)
Shake & strain into a glass with ice.
Optional Garnish: Cinnamon stick – which we lit on fire with a blow torch. 🙂
Deconstructed Margarita
1 ½ oz Blanco Tequila
1 Lime Wedge
Salt
Enjoy as you see fit.
The Burro
2 oz Reposado Tequila
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
½ oz Licor 43 Spanish Vanilla Liqueur
2 oz Mexican Lager
Shake & strain over Lenny Boy Ginger Booch cubes.
Top with Mexican Lager.
From all of us here at Scoop, we wish you a festive Cinco De Mayo!
Need some appetizers to go along with these fabulous cocktails?
Check out our COUNTDOWN TO CINCO – 46 Recipes for your Cinco De Mayo This Year.
Photography provided by Jessica Bentley.
A special thank-you to 204 North & The Punch Room for allowing us to capture these delicious cocktails at their beautiful saloons.
Next time you stop by either of these establishments, make sure to say hi to Amanda & Larry – they would be delighted to meet you.
