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Medicina Latina

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (63)
Medicina Latina image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Blanco tequila
3⁄4 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄3 fl oz Monin Ginger Syrup
1⁄3 fl oz Honey syrup (3 parts honey to 1 water by weight)
1⁄6 fl oz Del Maguey Vida Clásico Mezcal

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glassware

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of skewered crystallised ginger.

Method

  1. SHAKE first 4 ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
  3. FLOAT mezcal.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with skewered crystallised ginger.

Flavour Profile

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

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Medicina Latina contains 193 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 17.85% alc./vol. (35.7° proof)
  • 20.6 grams of pure alcohol

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

History

Adapted from a recipe created in 2009 by Marcos Tello at The Varnish in Los Angeles, USA.

In January 2022 I updated the recipe above. The previous after-dinner version comprised:
60ml (2oz) Blanco tequila
10ml (1/3oz) Honey syrup (3:1)
10ml 1/3oz) Ginger syrup
SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Garnish with candied ginger and spray of mezcal.

Review

A ginger spiced and honeyed Tequila Sour.

Variations/similar cocktails

Penicillin

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$4.66 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 6 cocktails.
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Comments & Discussion

Matt Premium Member
Very nice - the honey syrup leads the nose and the flavor, and works nicely with the tequila (and bit of mezcal). The lime adds some brightness, but the ginger syrup notes are lost to me. I think in the future I'd try with a reduced honey syrup pour (maybe 5 ml) to try to tease out the ginger notes.
score: 1
Greg Duerksen
I love the Penicillin, and this seemed an obvious riff to me with tequila and mezcal in place of the blended scotch and Islay scotch. For myself I named it the amexicillin… then I found this recipe! haha. Both this and the penicillin are awesome drinks, but you need more than just a spray of mezcal as the recipe says, the 1/4 oz float is best. Preferably an intensely smoky mezcal, make sure it makes you work to enjoy your drink.
score: 1
Frederic D. Premium Member
I made the sour version with lemon juice (I enjoy the ginger/honey combination with lemon more than lime, also I had a 1/2 lemon). Used Don Julio and Montelobos. This was very good, although I found that the ginger tended to fade and the mescaline became more prominent as the ice melted and dilution increased. I might try it on just one large ice cube next time, rather than an ice filled glass.
score: 2
Toby James Premium Member
The mescaline can never be too prominent.
score: 5
Chris Dimal
Sacrilegiously, made it without the Mezcal. Areum is right in that it is normally a Sour with more Mezcal. In this configuration, it still works, at least for me. Maybe it's because of my wet palate, but I may not like it with the Mezcal. The honey and ginger round off the Tequila, turning it into a sweet digestif, and with the warming ginger, it also makes it soothing and spicy. But that's just me.
score: 2
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Mezcal was in the garnish as a spray. However, I have revisited and updated this recipe to confirm to the sour with mezcal that now prevails. Both versions are tasty but suit different occasions.
score: 1
Chris Dimal
Finally made it properly, with the teaspoon of Mezcal. My palate has become drier since then and it really is much better than the 'digestif' version. The lime juice adds a delightful brightness to the warming combination. Still a bit behind the Penicillin though.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Interesting cocktail. A little on the sweet side and I used 2/3s of the honey syrup. Since I am not a fan of the smoky mezcal, used a spritz of absinthe. The absinthe helped to cut the sweetness.
score: 1
Areum Jeon
Have you tried a version with lemon/lime juice? That one bears more resemblance to the Penicillin cocktail(just replacing blended&smoky scotch with tequila&mezcal) and I loved it.
score: 2
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
I've not tried. Moving from old fashioned to sour. Do you have a preferred recipe?
score: 1
Areum Jeon
A sour template: 2 oz tequila blanco or reposado, 3/4 oz lime juice, 3/8 ginger syrup, 3/8 honey syrup, and a spray of mezcal on top. I've seen this recipe on Leandro's Youtube channel.
score: 1
Steven Jepson Premium Member
A bit on the sweet side but this slipped down far too quick - another Tequila / Mezcal to add to my list.
score: 2

View 7 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$4.66 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 6 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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