Name: Banderilla
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 22.5 ml Mezcal; 22.5 ml Blanco tequila; 22.5 ml Apricot liqueur; 22.5 ml Lime juice; 15 ml Orange-red aperitivo; 3 drop Saline solution 4:1

Ingredients

³⁄₄ fl oz

Del Maguey Vida Clásico Mezcal

³⁄₄ fl oz

Blanco tequila

³⁄₄ fl oz

Luxardo Apricot Albicocca Liqueur

³⁄₄ fl oz

Lime juice (freshly squeezed)

¹⁄₂ fl oz

Bittersweet orange-red aperitivo

3 drop

Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.

Prepare garnish of lime wedge.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.

STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Garnish

Garnish with lime wedge on rim.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Banderilla contains 183 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
18.79% alc./vol. (37.58° proof)
21.2 grams of pure alcohol

History

Created by yours truly in January 2025. This mezcal-influenced riff on a classic Toreador (bullfighter) is named after the decorated darts (banderillas) bullfighters use during a bullfight. While the brutality of this 'sport' leads to many questioning its future, the Toreador cocktail thrives, hence my creation of this riff.

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

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Doug James Premium Member 13w

Such a refreshing and well balanced cocktail. Agave forward with a bright citrus and a pleasingly fruity apricot finish. I used Rothman & Winter Apricot Orchard Liqueur in place of the Luxardo brand. The Vago Elote is a more grassy Mezcal than smoky to my palate. I found the first few sips very good as listed although a bit ‘flat’ so I added 4 drops of grapefruit bitters and it was a game changer bridging the Aperol, Lime, and Apricot flavors perfectly. Definitely a new summer favorite!

John Hinojos Premium Member 51w

Delightful cocktail. It was perfectly balanced with no one ingredient overpowering another. Would definitely make again. Being that I am not a big fan of anything overly smoky, I would adjust the mezcal and tequilla for may tastes, but if you like smoky it is great.

John Hinojos Premium Member 51w

Once it is allowed to sit and breathe, the smoky flavour does lessen. Thank you Simon.

Guy Daniels Premium Member 37w

This is interesting John. My first thought was to rebalance the mezcal-tequila as I prefer lighter smokey notes. However it does indeed lesson if you have the will power to sip more slowly… I do prefer it to the Toreador.

Calvin Grant Premium Member 1y

Tart crisp and refreshing. Apricot, lime and orangy Aperol pair well together. Out of tequila so I used a mildly smokey mezcal, Apaluz (agave durangensis) from Durango for both base spirits. Am thinking Rothman & Winter is not as sweet as Luxardo Apricot? Might try this again with 2.5ml agave syrup.

Doug James Premium Member 13w

Great suggestion. I added 1/4 oz agave on the second round and it was an even better cocktail! As you stated the Rothman & Winter must be a bit more dry than the Luxardo Apricot brandy called for in the orignal recipe. Thanks for the tip!

Calvin Grant Premium Member 13w

I find it to be more straight up apricot. Glad you liked it. Must revisit.

Adam G. Manning 1y

Is this a rocks drink or an up drink? It sounds great, however.

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 1y

Hi Adam. I designed it to be served over ice as per photo. I've corrected the offending sentence in How to.

Adam G. Manning 1y

Cheers, Simon. That makes sense given the sweetness of the drink.

Cheers. I’ll try this one out eventually. Love a Toreador. Seriously underrated.

Simon Sedgley Premium Member 1y

Lovely...we think that a few drops of Margarita bitters don't go astray here. And rather than simply serving in a chilled glass (as per the specs here) we throw in a block of ice.