Eclipse Cocktail (by Leo Robitschek)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (100 ratings)

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
1 oz Patrón Añejo tequila
34 oz Heering Cherry Liqueur
34 oz Bittersweet orange-red aperitivo
34 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
14 oz Del Maguey Vida Clásico Mezcal
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

SHAKE first 4 ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass (preferably over a chunk of block ice). FLOAT mezcal on surface of drink.

Strength & taste guide:

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

Review:

Beautifully balanced bitter-sweetness with tequila and mezcal sitting harmoniously with cherry and aperitivo liqueurs, with lemon freshness. A perfect aperitivo cocktail.

View readers' comments

History:

The colour of the moon during an eclipse inspired the name of this rusty-orange-red cocktail.

In Jim Meehan & Chris Gall's 2011 The PDT Cocktail Book, the creation of the Eclipse is credited to "Leo Robitschek, New York, Winter 2009."

ECLIPSE COCKTAIL
2 oz. El Tesoro Añejo Tequila
.75 oz. Aperol
.75 oz. Cherry – Heering
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal-rinsed coupe
Garnish with a lemon twist
–Leo Robitschek, New York, Winter 2009

Jim Meehan, 2011

When or where, this cocktail morphed from being served in a mezcal-rinsed coupe to being served on-the-rock with a mezcal float is unknown, but some say, it was first served at the 2013 Great GoogaMooga Festival held at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York. USA.

Nutrition:

One serving of Eclipse Cocktail (by Leo Robitschek) contains 214 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.2 standard drinks
  • 16.12% alc./vol. (16.12° proof)
  • 16.9 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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Showing 8 comments for Eclipse Cocktail (by Leo Robitschek).
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Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
19th June 2024 at 04:30
Some commenters found this over-sweet. Meehan & Gall specify Aperol whereas, in your specs, you simply indicate the generic "bittersweet orange-red aperitivo". Because of the emphasis on cherry liqueur, we avoided the further sweetening Aperol would have offered and went, instead, with Campari. So when you indicate the generic aperitivo are you leaving it to the discerning drinker to decide according to their own preferences? After all, there is a world of difference between Aperol and Campari.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
19th June 2024 at 07:53
Our "bittersweet orange-red aperitivo" category encompasses products like Aperol, while our "Italian red bitter liqueur" category is for more alcoholic and bitter products such as Campari. As you say, there is a world of difference between "aperitivo" liqueurs and "bitter" liqueurs.
J B’s Avatar J B
24th January 2024 at 22:40
Any info on the glass?
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
25th January 2024 at 08:45
Sorry, but shot before I started recording glasses used in photography.
Rick Pilling’s Avatar Rick Pilling
7th May 2023 at 02:19
I found the recipe too sweet for my pallette, but by adjusting it to 1 tequila: 1 Aperol: 1/2 cherry, 1/2 lime, with the mezcal float, it was nailing it on all fronts.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
13th January 2023 at 21:32
Liked this, but did find it a bit sweet for our tastes. Added a few drops of Difford's Margarita Bitters and it was much better. Enjoyed the blend and the light use of the mescal. The mescal enhances but does not overpower.
David Teager’s Avatar David Teager
8th November 2022 at 23:46
Pretty nice. A tequila riff on a Gilroy, which seems oddly absent from the Difford’s catalogue.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
9th November 2022 at 08:59
Thanks for letting me know about the omission. I've just checked The Savoy and look forward to testing specs. I will be sure to add the Gilroy as soon as I can get Dan here to photograph.
18th July 2021 at 17:33
Bomb AF! Those are my tasting notes. Thank you
Avatar

Anonymous

8th February 2021 at 00:11
The PDT Cocktail Book (2011) by Jim Meehan & Chris Gall offers this write-up of the Eclipse: "“To commemorate the rare occurrence, ancient Aztecs used to serve fermented agave to their victims before sacrificing them to the gods. 2 oz El Tesoro Añejo Tequila, .75 oz. Aperol, .75 oz. Cherry Heering, .75 oz. Lemon Juice. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal-rinsed coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist. — Leo Robitsheck, New York, Winter 2009”
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
19th July 2021 at 07:10
Many thanks. I've added the recipe from PDT book and credited Leo above.
Mary Strimel’s Avatar Mary Strimel
2nd July 2020 at 23:45
The description is accurate. Would readily make again!