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Old Mexican Friend

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (79)
Old Mexican Friend image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 fl oz Del Maguey Vida Clásico Mezcal
1⁄2 fl oz Italian red bitter liqueur
1⁄2 fl oz Elderflower liqueur
3⁄4 fl oz Pink grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Retro Coupe

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of grapefruit zest twist.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS grapefruit zest twist over cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Old Mexican Friend contains 177 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 19.34% alc./vol. (38.69° proof)
  • 20.2 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

A riff on Jim Meehan's usually gin-based Old Friend created in October 2020 by yours truly as a result of a comment left by a Discerning Drinker on our Old Friend page saying, "Swapped out gin for mezcal and would highly recommend for the more adventurous."

More cocktails by Simon Difford

Review

Bittersweet and sweet 'n' sour with smoky mezcal, zesty grapefruit and faint floral elderflower, particularly on the long smoky finish.

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$4.56 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 13 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Benedikt Premium Member
This is amazing and unlike anything I've tasted thus far. Very edgy, bitter and complex but I am entirely into it. Kudos Simon
score: 1
Tuber Magnatum Premium Member
Stumbled across this looking for a cocktail to use up half a grapefruit left from another cocktail (Cloister). This is an excellent cocktail which for me has terrific bracing acidity from the grapefruit balanced by the bitterness of the Campari and grapefruit. Notwithstanding other's comments, I'm not sure lemon or lime needed as I prefer the grapefruit to be front and centre which it does when made to spec.
score: 1
Cassandra Adams Premium Member
I added 5 ml of lime and some salt, and it improved it for me. Delicious either way though!
score: 2
Gregg Harbaugh
my suggestion is to replace the campari with aperol...cuts the bitterness...but, overall...great drink
score: 2
Gregg Harbaugh
tried 3:2:2:1 with mezcal, aperol, grapefruit & elderflower...still has the bitter bite with the smokiness, and the grapefruit holds it together nicely...I like having variations of the same drink for different tastes
score: 1
William Mulder
I like it, but it almost feels like it’s missing something. Maybe a salt rim?
score: 4
Jeff Newcastle
Haven’t been able to find anything new and special for quite a while now until this one. Simply delicious and far too easy to drink.
score: 2
John Cunningham
Surely you should have called this Old Amigo!
score: 7
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
I should have! That was a missed opportunity.
score: 1

View 7 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$4.56 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 13 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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