veldt

1 oz Novo Fogo Aged Cachaça
1 oz Del Maguey Mezcal Vida
1/2 Lime (quartered)
2 barspoon Sugar

Muddle the lime pieces with the sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients and ice, shake, and pour into a rocks glass. Top with ice, garnish with a lime wheel, and add a straw.

Two Monday ago, Andrea and I traveled to Woburn to have dinner at the Baldwin Bar at Sichuan Garden II. That night, bartenders Vannaluck Hongthong and Anthony Vibert were at the stick. For a first drink, Andrea asked Anthony for the Veldt which he mentioned was bartender Joel Atlas' creation. I did not inquire about the name which is a term for the open, uncultivated grasslands in southern Africa; perhaps Joel was inspired by the Ray Bradbury story by that name that was originally published as "The World the Children Made." Regardless, I was curious to try this Caipirinha riff especially since mezcal and cachaça have paired well in drinks like the Adorable Bartender.
The Veldt presented lime, smoke, and cachaça funk in the aroma department. On the tongue, lime flavors well balanced in the sweet-tart arena on the sip gave way to funky and grassy notes blending into smoky agave on the swallow.