south congress

2 oz Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal
1/2 oz Punt e Mes
1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Mole Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a Marasca cherry.

Two Wednesdays ago, we decided to make the trek over to Local 149 for dinner. For a first drink, I asked bartender John Mayer for the South Congress. At first, I figured that the drink was named after Congress Street that leads into South Boston where the restaurant resides. However, John explained that he dubbed his Red Hook-like drink after a neighborhood in Austin, Texas. SoCo was once a business district that fell into disrepair in the 1970s; over time with the help of artists and hip establishments attracted by the cheap rent, the area turned once again into a popular shopping and business destination.
The South Congress offered up a smoke aroma with a hint of the Punt e Mes and Maraschino. The sweet grape sip led into a smokey agave, bitter Punt e Mes, and funky Maraschino swallow. Finally, the swallow ended with the mole bitters' chocolate and the Angostura's spice.