.5 oz Creme de Cassis
3 oz Ginger Beer
.5 oz Lime Juice
2 dash Angostura Bitters
Combine all ingredients in a chilled collins glass filled with ice. Stir well
Going through Food and Wine Cocktails 2012 I saw this recipe for a twist on an El Diablo, and realized I never made the original drink. Taking this as a sign I decided to try both the classic El Diablo and the twist on the El Diablo at the same time and compare.
El Diablo
1.5 oz Tequila.5 oz Creme de Cassis
3 oz Ginger Beer
.5 oz Lime Juice
Lime wheel garnish.
The composition of the two recipes were pretty similar. The biggest difference was the use of mezcal instead of tequila.
El Diablo is on the left and the La Vida Del Diablo on the right.
El Diablo:
The classic starts off with tequila and citrus on the nose. The taste is ginger and lime tartness with some tequila. At the end the flavor gives way to lush berry notes from the creme de cassisLa Vida Del Diablo:
The La Vida starts with tar and smoke on the nose. The taste starts with a slight lime taste followed by a oppressive punch of mescal that almost convers the berries in smoke. Ginger is light throughout.
Comparison:
With the mezcal change the two versions end up being quite different and I'd have them in different situations. The classic El Diablo is very light, reminiscent of a flavored margarita and refreshing. It reminds me of something that could be used with food as a pallet cleanser. The mezcal version feels heavy and aggressive and leaves you with smoke on the tongue for minutes afterwards. It is more of a nighttime sipper compared to the El Diablo's daytime fair. Both are good though.
