the missing

1 1/2 oz Mezcal (Peloton de la Muerte)
1/2 oz Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
1/2 oz Falernum (Velvet)

Shake with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a grapefruit twist. Two Thursdays ago, I was still thinking of the Mai-Kai's Last Rites that I had the night before. Hearing "Last Rites" made me think of the 1988 Ministry song "The Missing" that has those as the lyrics, and I took the trio of citrus plus modifiers and was inspired to replace the rums with something appropriate for my new job at Gato Exotico. Indeed, I ended up using the 3:1 mezcal to Ancho Reyes ratio found in the Ancho Noir and Aztec Warrior. When served over a large ice cube instead of the Last Rite's crushed ice, The Missing gave forth grapefruit, vegetal, and smoke aromas. Next, lime, roast, and passion fruit notes escaped into smoky agave, pepper spice, tropical, and clove flavors on the swallow.