zig zag wanderer

1 3/4 oz Fidencio Clasico Mezcal
3/4 oz Averna
1/2 oz Aveze Gentiane Liqueur
1/8 oz Tempus Fugit Creme de Cacao

Stir with ice and strain into a coupe glass.

A few Tuesdays ago, I paid another visit to the Ames Street Deli after one of my day shifts. Working that night were Rob Hoover and Schuyler Hunton, and for a first drink, I asked Rob for the Zig Zag Wanderer. I inquired if the drink was created by a bartender from Seattle who spent time at the Zig Zag where Murray Stenson used to work. Rob informed me that this was Nate's recipe and that he was not in fact from Seattle; however, the drink was named after a Captain Beefheart Song. Nate felt that the recipe was all over the place with the ingredients and it happened to be the anniversary of Captain Beefheart's death, so he dubbed this wandering drink in tribute. The Captain Beefheart aspect reminded me of Ashtray Heart, Erik Ellestad's own tribute that appears in Beta Cocktails.
The Zig Zag Wanderer began with a smoky mezcal nose with dark notes from a mix of caramel, herbal, and chocolate elements. A light caramel sip gave way to agave flavors and earthy bitterness on the swallow. Finally, the swallow finished with gentle chocolate, smoke, and vanilla flavors.