Black Mesa

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (35 ratings)

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Caribbean blended rum aged 6-10 years
12 oz Jamaican-style overproof aged pot still rum
12 oz Lustau San Emilio Pedro Ximénez Sherry
2 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
2 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
  5. EXPRESS flamed orange zest twist over cocktail, then use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 10/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

Pungent, funky and boozy with harmonious rum-dominated bitter sweetness.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2015 by Damon Boelte at Grand Army, Brooklyn, New York, USA. Damon's original recipe called for El Dorado 12 year old Demerara rum and Smith & Cross Jamaican rum.

Nutrition:

One serving of Black Mesa contains 191 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.7 standard drinks
  • 30.98% alc./vol. (30.98° proof)
  • 23.6 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Matt’s Avatar Matt
14th July 2024 at 23:40
Jamaican overproof is dominant flavor, even with only 1/2 oz. Others note that letting it rest (and get a little melt-water) helps mellow it out - I think I'll make with cube ice next time. Also, PX sherry adds sweetness and a nice flavor, but not as much sweet as the demerara syrup I use in a Rum O.F.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
30th August 2023 at 23:25
My personal notes say this is brand-dependent, and I'm sure you'd agree. Appleton 8 and Hamilton 151 was serviceable at first, though as the block of ice melted, it vastly improved. Something to play with.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
30th August 2023 at 23:30
O. F. T. D. replacing the Hamilton?... Different drink; maybe more edgy and focused in its rum nuances, but not necessarily better.
John KM’s Avatar John KM
9th December 2022 at 22:52
One of my favourite cocktails ever. The taste is exquisite
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
18th September 2022 at 03:47
It is boozy and dry. Definitely, a cocktail that needs to rest and let some of the block of ice melt. First comes over like firewater, but afterward becomes a very nice sipper. It is definitely a 10 or 10+ on the boozy scale.