Archive for the ‘The Maverick’ tag
McCain’s Cocktail: The Maverick
My Friends — The Maverick.
Words that make me think, “Good Lord, I need a drink.” So I created one. Here’s the recipe:
The Maverick
2 oz silver tequila
2 oz fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
1 oz lime juice
¾ oz jalapeño simple syrup
Sugar
Rim margarita glass with sugar
Pour all of the ingredients into a Boston shaker over ice. Shake and pour entire contents into sugar-rimmed glass
Jalapeño simple syrup? Grapefruit juice?
My McCain cocktail is loosely based on the 1970’s classic The Salty Dog . I kept the grapefruit juice (the main mixer) and tossed everything else.
I know it sounds like a weird combo, but once I started experimenting, this cocktail took on a personality of its own. Tequila was an easy choice given McCain’s Western roots, and jalapeño syrup was fun to experiment with. The result was a subtly spicy, and slightly bittersweet cocktail. (I’m not even trying to be pithy there.)
During the second 2008 Presidential debate, I served the Maverick alongside pulled pork sandwiches and homemade bbq sauce. The tanginess of the grapefruit cut through the richness of the meal and made itself right at home.
Want an alternate strategy? Serve it at brunch; it’ll kick that snooty mimosa’s ass.
Jalapeño Simple Syrup
1-cup sugar
1-cup water
One small jalapeño cut into discs.
Combine sugar and water in a small pot. Slowly bring up the temperature dissolving all of the sugar. When the mixture begins to simmer add slices of jalapeño to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove jalapeño slices, they’ll be candied and can be used as garnish.
This will make about 1 1/2 cups of syrup that can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
