smoke & mirrors

25 mL Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal (3/4 oz Montelobos + 1/2 tsp agave nectar)
25 mL Cherry Heering (3/4 oz)
25 mL Punt e Mes (3/4 oz)
25 mL Grapefruit Juice (3/4 oz)

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe. Garnish with orange twist oils.

Two Wednesdays ago, I happened upon an intriguing Blood & Sand riff in the Experimental Cocktail Club book called the Smoke & Mirrors. Besides the mezcal for Scotch swap that I have seen in the Becca's Blood & Sand and the Riccardo, the orange juice and sweet vermouth were swapped for grapefruit juice and Punt e Mes, respectively. First, Punt e Mes and grapefruit are a great combination together as shown in the Americano Squeeze, the Edgewood, and other drinks. And second, instead of the soft and smoothing orange juice, grapefruit juice brings a "half sour" element (as in not as full strength as lemon or lime juice) to tie the elements together better. I witnessed a similar change in the Satan's Whiskers when the regular orange juice was swapped for a sour varietal in Stephen's Whiskers.
The Smoke & Mirrors started with an orange oil, smoke, and dark fruit (from the Cherry Heering and/or Punt e Mes) aroma. Next, grape and grapefruit on the sip led into agave, cherry, and Punt e Mes' bitter on the swallow with a smoke-tinged finish. Indeed, I am curious how the classic would do with grapefruit as the juice given how well it works with scotch in the Express and Polly's Special.