Recipe: El Cuervo

Recipe
Written By Sarah Karney
Halloween tequila cocktail

A twisted take on the Paloma — "El Cuervo," crafted for Carabuena by Gabe Ford, utilizes black sesame to turn the bright flavors of grapefruit to the darkside, resulting in a strikingly spooky cocktail.

COCKTAIL RECIPE: EL CUERVO

PREP IT

  • 45 mL (or 1½ oz) Carabuena Tequila Blanco

  • 10 mL (or ¼ oz) Italicus

  • 30 mL (or 1 oz) Black Sesame + Grapefruit Cordial (recipe below)

  • 20 mL (or ¾ oz) Verjus

  • To taste: Jarritos Grapefruit Soda

  • Garnish: Grapefruit wedge & black lava salt

MAKE IT

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass, then top with Jarritos Grapefruit Soda to taste. Stir 10-15 seconds. Pour over one fat ice cube. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit dipped in black lava salt.

RECIPE: BLACK SESAME + GRAPEFRUIT CORDIAL

This recipe makes enough for use in multiple El Cuervo cocktails, perfect for batching for Halloween parties.

PREP IT

  • 500 g (or 2 cups) fresh pink or ruby grapefruit juice, strained

  • 250 g (or 1 cup + 3 tbsp) white sugar

  • (Optional) 2 g (or ⅓ tsp) citric acid

  • (Optional)1 g (or ¼ tsp) malic acid

  • 150 g (or ½ cup) black sesame paste

  • 100 g (or ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp) hot water

MAKE IT

Juice the fresh grapefruit, straining to remove pulp, add sugar (and acids, if using), and stir until fully dissolved. Bloom the sesame paste by combining it with the hot water, and stirring until fully incorporated.

Combine the two mixtures to create the Black Sesame + Grapefruit Cordial for use in El Cuervo cocktail recipe.

¡SALÚD!

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Sarah Karney
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