Love in the Time of Cocktails

Just as the eternal love between Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza—from the famous book ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ by Gabriel García Márquez—continues to inspire millions of lovebirds around the world, we invited three renowned bartenders from our community to share their interpretation of true love—in a cocktail. There is no room for stereotypes or clichés in a shaker! 

Amor Eterno, like the Juan Gabriel* song

By David Ampudia, Altos and Avión Tequila Brand Ambassador

IG @ampudia.david

“This cocktail is sweet and sour like life, pink like a postcard, creamy like love and remarkable like Juan Gabriel. Balanced and versatile like Altos Plata, sweet like guava, acidic like lime, bittersweet like bitters and fresh like basil.”

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Altos Plata tequila
• 2 oz. guava juice
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 1/2 oz. agave syrup

• 4 dashes Angostura or aromatic bitters
• 1 sprig of fresh basil (for garnish)
  
  

Method

In a shaker with plenty of ice, add all of the liquids except the bitters. Shake vigorously for 30 to 40 seconds. Strain over an Old Fashioned glass with ice cubes. Decorate with Angostura drops and a basil floret freshly picked from the garden.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Gabriel

There is no greater love than traveling

By Simon Kistenfeger, Altos Tequila Global Brand Ambassador 

IG @the_real_vikingo

“Luscious, spicy, smoky, aromatic, complex, bitter and subtle sweetness. This is love!”

“There is no greater love than traveling and experiencing new cultures. To bring home and share with my guests this feeling of love for the respective country I am traveling to is priceless! This is one of the greatest feelings that my bartender job gives me: being able to share with my guests the flavors of a country they might never have been to.”

“During my travels around Mexico I discovered that food is something very special for Mexicans and one of the most heartwarming experiences I have had was on a visit to Oaxaca. The flavors of Mezcal and Mole blew my mind and inspired me to create a cocktail using these typical flavors.”

Ingredients

• 4 cl Altos añejo tequila
• 2 cl mezcal pechuga 
• 25 ml lime juice
• 20 ml mole syrup
• 15 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 dashes chipotle bitters
• 2 dashes Xocolatl mole bitters
• 1 egg white
• avocado leaves powder (for rim)*
• cocoa nibs and lime zest (for garnish) 
  
  

Method

For the black mole syrup, heat 200 gr of concentrated black mole paste, 300 ml of water and 300 gr of sugar in a big saucepan, dissolving the sugar and the mole paste until you get a smooth liquid syrup. Set aside.

In a shaker, add the mole syrup and all of the other ingredients. Give it a hard shake and double strain. Serve in a Nick & Nora glass rimmed with avocado powder and garnish with cocoa nibs and lime zest.  

*dried avocado leaves, roasted and crushed to a powder.

Champagne Margarita, a homenage to family

By Dré Masso, co-creator and Global Brand Ambassador of Altos tequila

IG @dremasso

  

Dré loves many things in his life but nothing more than his family and Altos tequila!  In 2009, he partnered with Henry Besant and Jesus Hernandez, our Maestro Tequilero to create Altos Tequila, a tequila from bartenders for bartenders! 

“In 2004 I spent 6 months learning from Julio Bermejo of Tommy’s Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. Their house cocktail is the Tommy’s Margarita and still remains to be my all time favorite cocktail. I created The Champagne Margarita as an homage to family warmth. Salud!”

Ingredients

 

• 30ml /1 Part Altos Reposado
• 20m1/ 2/3 lime juice
• 20ml/ 2/3 Sage infused agave syrup*
• 20ml / 2/3 Pear puree
• Top with 30ml Champagne
  
  

Method

To make sage infused agave syrup, pour 300ml of pure organic agave into a saucepan with 150ml of water. Add 10 sage leaves. Bring to the boil, turn down and simmer for 5 minutes. Allow to cool and strain into a glass bottle.

To make Champagne Margarita, shake first four ingredients. Fine strain into chilled coupette glass. Top up with chilled Champagne. Garnish with fresh sage leaf.

Como la flor

By Cristina Robles, Advocacy Coordinator at House of Tequila

IG @ladytequila_

“I grew up singing and dancing Selena’s songs. I have to say that her music –and tequila, are the most important thing of my life. My inspiration for this cocktail was Selena’s song: Como la Flor.  When I shake this cocktail I feel happy… In one sip I found love! It´s also strong -like all the women that surrounded me, but at the same time it´s fresh and sweet. Don’t forget to tag me if you decide to prepare it at home! “

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Altos plata
• 1.5 oz lychee juice
• 1 oz rose liqueur
• ½ oz lime juice
• Eatible flower for garnish
  
  

Method

Add all the ingredients into a shaker. Fill with ice and shake shortly. Double strain and serve in a coupette glass. Add the garnish and enjoy!!