This has pineapple, cardamom, lime juice and mezcal. Inspired by the menu from Nashville’s bar Bastion as featured in the magazine Liquor.

I am yet to be super impressed by any mezcal cocktail. I think mezcal is best had by itself. In this drink the cardamom or pineapple effect is completely subsumed by the mezcal smokiness. Unlike a neutral alcohol like vodka, mezcal does not have too many other liquids (like juices) that can soften it down.

I will try next time with pineapple juice instead of crushed pineapple and see if it makes any difference.

The earthen vessel and the pineapple bits with lime slices made the drink look good though!

A variation of a gimlet with pomegranate for her and a tamarind-mezcal cocktail for me.

Inaugurated my new smoking gun. I am still learning the fine art of smoking drinks – so do not hold me to high standards. Used mesquite wood to smoke the Old Fashioned (used Maker’s Mark).

Next time I will do the smoking in a more open space. My nose is so filled with the rich aroma of the smoke that came our initially that I could hardly smell it in the Old Fashioned!! Plus there is the advantage that I would not kick in the fire alarms 🙂

A good adventure though and very excited about the new smoking gun. (Part of it has to be the fact that I love the name 🙂 )