Mezcal-Hibiscus Slushie
Relax. You’re not going to have to eat a worm or suffer a massive hangover. This is not the cheap tequila binge of your youth. Mezcal, a distilled spirit made from 30 kinds of agave (tequila is technically a mezcal but is only made from the blue agave), is having its day. It’s artisanally made, smoky, and nuanced. Combined with fresh ginger, tangy hibiscus, and bitter-sweet Aperol, we think we’ve come up with a pretty sophisticated slushie. This mezcal-hibiscus slushie is pink and it’s potent. No need for shots.
Directions
Put the tea bags and grated ginger in a heat-proof, 2-cup measuring cup and pour the boiling water over top. Let steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags, strain out the ginger, and let cool to at least room temperature, or chill completely.
Put the ice cubes in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, a rolling pin, or a heavy skillet, gently crack each cube so there are no large pieces but it’s not totally crushed. Put into a blender.
Pour 3 ounces of the tea, the mezcal, Aperol, lime juice, and simple syrup into the blender. Start at a lower speed for a couple of seconds and then turn to high speed for a couple more. The drink should be like a loose slushy.
Cut ends off of salami and sliced into sticks.
Divide into 2 glasses and garnish each with a lime wheel and salami stick.
Cook’s Notes
You can buy ready-made simple syrup in the grocery store, but for goodness sake, just make it at home. Bring equal amounts of sugar and water to a simmer in a saucepan. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Store in the refrigerator.
