Recipe by Amanda Neumann
Photo by Amber Fouts
Return of the Don is a bright and balanced cocktail for any summer occasion. The tingly taste of ginger and lemongrass stimulate the senses — it’s a sipper! Refreshing in taste and aesthetically pleasing, the color and flavor profile were inspired by sunsets in Mexico and California. Return of the Don is served in a coupe and garnished with either lemon or strawberry.
Makes 1 cocktail | 30 Minutes
For the ginger lemongrass syrup:
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped lemongrass
1 three-inch piece of ginger, chopped
For the cocktail:
2 strawberries, muddled
1.5 ounces Don Julio Blanco tequila
1 ounce ginger lemongrass syrup
3/4 ounce purple carrot juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1/4 ounce Mezcal Union
1 ounce sparkling wine
strawberry or lemon garnish
In a pot, bring to boil sugar, water, and lemongrass. Reduce to simmer. Add ginger. Simmer syrup for 25 minutes. Strain with cheesecloth and mesh strainer. Store in an airtight container.
In a shaker, muddle the strawberries. Combine tequila, ginger lemongrass syrup, purple carrot juice, lemon juice, and Mezcal Union in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and double strain. Fill a coupe glass with sparkling wine, then add the cocktail from the shaker. Garnish with a strawberry.
