Halloween Feature, Day 5: Rich Witch and Famous
Day 5 of our Halloween Feature, and today's drink is a witchy spin on one of the best modern classics out there.
Who made it
The Naked and Famous is an equal-parts mezcal cocktail created by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co in New York. Bartenders love it, and plenty of them have tried swapping its yellow Chartreuse for Strega, the Italian liqueur whose name means "witch." The "Rich Witch and Famous" name for that swap came from the team at Strega, and the spec below is the one published by Difford's Guide.
The recipe
¾ oz mezcal
¾ oz Strega
¾ oz orange-red bitter aperitivo
¾ oz fresh lime juice
3 drops saline solution (or a tiny pinch of salt)
Shake everything with ice and fine-strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, or, if you want to win Halloween, a tiny broomstick laid across the top.
Why it works
Equal-parts drinks are a bartender's best friend because they're easy to remember and easy to balance. Smoke from the mezcal, herbal sweetness from the Strega, bittersweet orange from the aperitivo and sharp lime all pull in different directions, and somehow land right in the middle.
Bartender tip: Equal-parts drinks are perfect for batching. Mix the four liquids in a bottle ahead of your party (skip the ice), keep it in the fridge, and shake each one to order.
Tomorrow is Halloween and our final feature. If your team deserves a better holiday party than sheet cake, tell us your date.