Manzanilla sherry contributes dry, delicate, minerally salty notes to this mezcal-forward aperitivo. If you don't have Difford's Margarita Bitters (shame...
I like Mezcal, sherry and I like Margharitas so as soon as I had a bottle of Manzanilla sherry open I had to try this. In many ways I really like it, but I'm left with the feeling to try the cocktail completely without Mezcal just to understand all the other components. The Mezcal is very front and heavy which kind of overshadows everything on the front and mid palate. On the finish it's like all other components come rushing in to show what they've got - Cointreau, sherry, Margarita bitters all blend together beautifully in an orange creamsicle kind of way. The bitters absolutely shine on the end with their floral components but it's a shame I didn't quite get them earlier. Next time I'll probably try 2:1 blanco tequila and Mezcal just to see how it affects everything because I'd absolutely adore if I got more of that floral orange creamsicle.
Should be called "Carmen Margarita" imo. She sings about Manzanilla throughout the opera and the Mezcal is a perfect smoky allegory for the cigarette factory.