Some days you just need a little something to whet your palate and warm you up after a rainy walk with the dog.
Today is one of those days, so I made Misty Kalkofen’s 4 3 1, an aptly named combination of Vida mezcal, St Germain, and Ramazzotti amaro.
Pairing these three bottles is beyond what I would’ve thought of on my own, but the 4 3 1 is a surprisingly satisfying drink. It’s aromatic and smokey enough to mask the smell of wet dog in my house. It even powers through my seasonal allergy congestion. A really good whiff gets you some of the floral sweetness from the St Germain.
The drink is quite sweet, but it’s supported by that smokey backbone of mezcal and a hint of cola bitter thanks to the amaro.
On its own, the Vida is polarizing in my house. It’s the entry-level bottle from Del Maguey, a collection of single-village, traditionally made mezcals. Jason hates it, and I can definitely see how its pungency would turn some people off. It’s inescapably smokey, but if you can get past the pungency, it’s got notes of banana, vanilla, and spicy cinnamon.
Vida might not one for sipping on its own, but a good addition to the 4 3 1 and other bright or citrusy mezcal cocktails.
4 3 1
source: Kindred Cocktails
1 oz Del Maguey Vida mezcal
3/4 oz St Germain
1/4 oz Ramazzotti amaro
Shake & strain
stirred 