While The Matador features many new and exciting mezcal cocktails at the mezcaleria in their new Ballard location, this drink was their original mezcal margarita and has been a guest favorite on the menus at all of Matador locations for years. Their classic Smokey Margarita is easy to make and features a charred pineapple syrup to complement the smoky agave fruit notes in the mezcal. It's a great starter mezcal cocktail that anyone from the novice mezcal drinker up to the serious aficionado can enjoy.

Smokey Margarita:

• 1.75 ounces of any quality, joven Espadín mezcal. Some of our favorites are 400 Conejos, Ilegal, Sombra, Agave de Cortez, or Union.
• 0.75 ounces quality triple sec orange liqueur
• 1 oz fresh lime juice. (Fresh lime juice is best but a pasteurized, bottled juice is OK so long as it is un-sweetened! Only use 100% real juice with no added sugar!)
• 1 oz Charred Pineapple syrup (recipe to follow)
• Tajin - a popular Mexican seasoning blend of sea salt, chiles, and lime. It's a zesty, citrusy, slightly spicy seasoned salt and it is amazing with mezcal and fruit-based drinks.

Charred Pineapple Syrup:

• Cut 1 pound of fresh pineapple into planks about 1" thick. Place on grill (or under oven broiler) and cook until 50% of the surface area has been blackened - about 5 minutes per side.
• While pineapple is grilling, place 3 cups of pineapple juice, 1-1/2 tsp paprika, and 1-1/2 tsp chile powder in a sauce pan and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk in 3 cups of sugar.
• · Put grilled pineapple pieces and pineapple syrup into a blender and pulse for 20-30 seconds until fruit chunks have been fully pureed.

Procedure:

1. Fill a 16 oz glass with ice.

2. Add mezcal, triple sec, lime juice, and pineapple syrup.

3. Cap with a shaker and shake very hard for 5 seconds.

4. Rim glass with Tajin and pour drink from shaker back into rimmed glass.

5. Garnish with a lime or pineapple wedge and more Tajin

June 2021