Pepino Diablo
Pepino Diablo
Oh hi, this is one of my favorite cocktails mainly because it's so refreshing and perfectly balanced, not too sweet and not too tart. It’s a twist on a cucumber margarita with just a little hint of spice from the jalapeno and smidge herbaceousness from the basil.
The bright chartreuse color from the puree is what makes this drink a crowd favorite. You know you're about to sip something amazing. When I first put this drink on the menu at my restaurant last summer it would create a chain reaction every time someone ordered one. Customers would see one go out, then they couldn’t help but order one, then another, and before we knew it the whole patio would have them, which would start the cross talk between tables with people creating nicknames for it saying "give me another pepe!"
Being that it's almost impossible to just have one, make sure you have back up puree. The drink itself only takes about two minutes to shake up once you have the puree, which is also very simple. Feel free to make it sugar free by substituting the simple syrup for lime, which makes it more tart, but equally delicious if you're watching your sugar intake.
Cheers and enjoy your "pepe".
Pepino Diablo Recipe
Don Julio Blanco tequila, St Germain Liqueur, cucumber- basil- jalapeno puree, simple syrup, fresh lime, chimayo chile rim
1oz puree
.5 St Germain
1.5 blanco tequila
1 oz lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Give it a few shakes and pour over fresh ice, lime garnish, Nikle Chimayo Chile Salt rim
*note, no need to strain the puree, it taste great with it in there
Puree:
In a blender add: 1 peeled and seeded cucumber, 1/4 jalapeno w seeds, 5 basil leaves, ½ cup simple syrup, blend really well.