It’s Happy Hour! We’re diving into cocktail balance, party fouls, and … livestock*? Then, as promised, we’re presenting two wild-card cocktails with an agave twist.

Ben’s got the “perfect” cocktail to wash away the Negroni from Tuesday: the Banana Frexicano. This smoky-sweet blend of agave and banana will have you dreaming of warm tropical nights. Best of all, no Campari! You like Mezcal, right?

Matthew, at Ben’s request, is bringing a kicked-down Margarita this week. It’s your standard tequila + orange liqueur + lime + salt but with some subtle twists to really let the Tequila shine.

*No cows or pigs were harmed in the recording of this podcast.

(00:00) Opening

(01:13) Do cows fly?

(05:05) Matthew, the Elderflower Liqueur of parties

(07:00) Cocktail balance

(08:49) Flavor matters

(11:46) Flavor balance tips

(17:18) Cocktail: Banana Frexicano

(20:30) Mezcal

(23:25) Cocktail: Matthew’s Margarita

(27:28) Tequila

(31:22) Orange liqueurs primer

(33:40) Their grandpa goes on the run

(35:29) Closing

• 1 oz mezcal
• 1 oz cognac or brandy
• 1 oz banana liqueur (we used Giffard’s Banane du Bresil)
• Combine mezcal, cognac or brandy, and banana liqueur in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds to your desired dilution, then strain into a Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with a banana round on a cocktail pick if desired.

• 1.5 oz reposado tequila
• 0.75 oz lime juice
• 0.75 oz Cointreau
• 1 tsp agave syrup
• Pinch of salt
• Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until well chilled, and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

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We own and recommend these books:

The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

Imbibe! by David Wondrich

Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

Products we own, like and use:

• Measuring tools
• OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
• OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
• OXO SteeL Double Jigger
• Shakers
• This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
• Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Small Weighted Shaking Tin
• Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Large Weighted Shaking Tin
• Mixing Glasses/Tins
• Viski Crystal Mixing Glass, 17 oz
• Pint glass: you don’t need a link for this do you?
• Peelers