aztec death whistle

1 oz Mezcal (Peloton de la Muerte)
1 oz Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur
1/2 oz Orange Liqueur (Bauchant)
1/2 oz Fernet Branca (*)

Stir with ice and strain into an old fashioned glass (or Tiki mug) with ice. Garnish with orange oil or an orange twist (a later addition than the first photo).
(*) Fernet Vallet, a Mexican Fernet, worked just as well as Fernet Branca at work if not better at work. At Gato Exotico, we have a Tiki-style mug in the form of an Aztec death whistle that was too small for our Margaritas and needed a use. It was also thought that something more aggressive needed to accompany a mug of that name, so I set to work at home. My creation started as an abstraction of the Don't Give Up the Ship that swapped the gin and Dubonnet for mezcal and chile liqueur. Ancho Reyes and Fernet have worked well in one of the versions of My Name is Nobody, and Ancho Reyes and orange liqueur have been great in drinks like Third Times' the Charm. The drink and the mug were named after a type of whistle used by the Aztecs to produce a high-pitched human-like shrieking sound. It was originally believed that it was used to scare off their enemies in war, but after finding it in the hands of a sacrificial victim, it may have been ceremonial or perhaps functioning in both capacities. At home, the Aztec Death Whistle served like an Old Fashioned (before an orange twist was added) gave forth smoky, roasty, vegetal, and minty aromas. Next, an orange-driven sip expanded into smoky, spicy pepper, and bitter menthol flavors on the swallow. At Gato Exotico, the team tried it with Fernet Branca, Amargo Vallet, and Fernet Vallet, and the Mexican Fernet seemed to be the favorite. My manager felt it needed a citrus twist, and orange won out over lemon. Also, since the mug is branded to Espolon, the spirit will probably change to an equal split of Espolon Tequila and Montelobos Mezcal (same portfolio) keeping all other things equal. There will also need to be a change to a shorter and thinner straw since it is more difficult to enjoy a higher proof Old Fashioned-style drink with a wider and thus higher volume straw.