Recipe

• 1.5oz Oakland Spirits Tradewinds cilantro & garam masala brandy
• .5oz mezcal (Montelobos)
• 1oz lime juice
• .5oz agave nectar (simple syrup fine too)
• (optional) 2 dashes of Bittermens Hellfire Habanero shrub (or anything else to add a spicy kick – fresh jalapeño or even hot sauce)

Rim a glass with a combo of salt and garam masala powder. Fill the glass with ice. Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into the rimmed glass.

About

This is one of those cocktails I’d rave about if I discovered it at a bar, and is one of my fave cocktails I’ve created at home! It’s also super simple and tastes waaaay more complicated than it is. The star of the show here is without a doubt, the Oakland Spirits cilantro and garam masala brandy. On its own, it’s suuuper intense and crazy. If you are a cilantro hater, you may want to wash out your mouth. If you’re a middle of the road cilantro-is-tolerable-but-I-don’t-love-it person (me!), you’ll likely still be skeptical. HOWEVER, the moment you mix this in this drink, YOU WILL 100% BE A BELIEVER. Game changer.

The drink is tart, savory, fresh beyond belief, and just SO flavorful and beautiful. It dances in your mouth and works absolute MAGIC. If you dig Indian flavors, you absolutely need this bottle in your life. Seek it out, and make this drink. And if you don’t have access to this, I would still suggest trying out the combo by muddling in a bit of cilantro and garam masala powder, then fine straining. Killer combo.