the revelator

2 oz Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
1/2 oz Averna
1/2 oz Punt e Mes
3 Espresso Beans (Dark Roast Coffee Beans)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with an orange peel. Note: do not muddle the coffee beans.

Two Sundays ago, I returned to the 2020 Community Cocktails book and was intrigued by Keith Waldbauer's The Revelator as a Tequila Manhattan flavored with coffee beans. The book listed him as working at the The Doctor's Office in Seattle; however, this drink dates back to his time at the Libery Bar. A 2016 article in Thrillist describes, "Tasked to create a cocktail with whole beans in an 'iron bartender' competition, Liberty Bar co-owner Keith Waldbauer opted against muddling (the resulting cocktail would be way too bitter) and chose instead to stir the beans directly into the drink, gently releasing their oils and producing more subtle coffee notes. The drink proved a hit and quickly made its way onto the permanent menu at the bar. Strong and just a little spicy, it's an incredible digestif." The older version utilized sweet vermouth and bitters instead of Punt e Mes here, and overall, the combination reminded me a little of the Razor Ramon, so I set of mixing.The Revelator proffered orange, coffee, and vegetal aromas to the nose. Next, caramel and grape on the sip flipped to tequila and bitter herbal flavors on the swallow with a coffee and caramel finish.