Name: Succulent Blood
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 60 ml Mezcal; 30 ml Blood orange juice; 7.5 ml Cinnamon syrup; 5 ml Falernum liqueur; 5 ml Lime juice

Ingredients

2 fl oz

Del Maguey Vida Clásico Mezcal

1 fl oz

Blood orange juice

¹⁄₄ fl oz

Monin Cinnamon Syrup

¹⁄₆ fl oz

Falernum liqueur

¹⁄₆ fl oz

Lime juice (freshly squeezed)

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.

Prepare garnish of dehydrated blood orange slice wheel.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.

FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

Garnish with orange slice.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Succulent Blood contains 181 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
17.62% alc./vol. (35.24° proof)
20.3 grams of pure alcohol

History

Created in February 2014 by yours truly after misreading the recipe for the Sangre Dulce cocktail by Regina Butler at Blackbird Bar in San Francisco. I used Velvet Falernum in place of Fernet Vallet but the resulting drink tasted good. Then, in May 2022, updated to add a splash of lime juice thanks to a comment by Ulysses Grand.

Mezcal is distilled from agave plants which are categorised 'Succulents' - plants which are thickened and fleshy, allowing them to retain water in arid climates - hence, coupled with blood orange juice, this cocktail's name.

Comments & Discussion

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Ed Scheel 26w

A bit too mezcal forward for me- may try again with a mezcal/tequila mix. That said, didn't have cinnamon syrup so went will demerara syrup instead so maybe the cinnamon would have helped

Chris Dimal 49w

My first drink with Mezcal ever, specifically the Del Maguey San Luis del Rio (NOT VIDA). Unfortunately not for me. I felt that the Mezcal was just too overwhelmingly industrial in the drink and the falernum went missing. Is this normal when having Mezcal for the first time?

Calvin Grant Premium Member 26w

Also hoping you are safe.

Chris Dimal 24w

Holding on.

Calvin Grant Premium Member 26w

Perhaps you've already discovered mezcal is a highly varied product, ranging from mild to dumpster fire with tires. Sorry if I sound like I'm mansplaining but if we were in close proximity I would gladly trade you a more subtle mezcal for thet pricey bottle of yours.

Chris Dimal 24w

I knew that already. I was particularly aware of VIDA (the recommended Mezcal on Difford's Guide) and its smoky, burning tire, cost-cutting reputation. This is why I decided to splurge a tiny bit for this Mezcal. I have a feeling that it is all about getting used to it, as I can find the appeal of drinks made with it. It still is not a massive favorite, however.

Ruth Harvey 1y

Made with cinnamon syrup created for my birthday by a dear friend. Delicious!

Peter M Premium Member 1y

I made this with Del Maguey Vida Clasico, Monin Cinnamon syrup, & Velvet Falernum. Earthy smokiness of the mezcal is front and center, with the blood orange juice balancing things out, and the rest adding some subtle complexity. Tasty if you like Mezcal.

Rémi Dejaeghère 2y

Being found of blood orange juice, I wanted to taste cocktail recipes with it. We tried the Blood Orange Margarita yesterday and were disappointed. Tried this one today, heart full of hope. I did two versions : one with falernum and one with bénédictine as Deyan Kavrakov suggested (my girlfriend loves bénédictine). She liked both, I was disappointed by both. I find it too juicy and sweet (mostly due to a lack of acidity IMO) and too mezcal forward (I used Del Maguey Vida). I'll keep trying !

Deyan Kavrakov 2y

Excellent cocktail. Mezcal(or Reposado Tequila) and Cinnamon are established combination. I agree with G.M.G. about the distant lemongrass (Thai) echo. Being wonderful, as this cocktail is, I kindly suggest using 10ml Benedictine DOM instead of Falernum: outstanding.

G. M. Genovese Premium Member 2y

A unique drink worth trying... My falernum was a haphazard mushing of 2 cloves, 4 lime peels, 6 thumbnail slices of ginger, and 15 ml amaretto, muddled to death before adding the other ingredients. My orange was Cara Cara, which is flavorful for sure but different enough from a blood orange to skew the flavors... I found this drink rather Vietnamese?!? - lemongrass, spicy green chile, sweet citrus... I'm very curious what y'all came up with.