Black Rock Chiller

 

Story:

This is another cocktail in the scaffa family, which are designed to be served at room temperature.  The recipe was created for the Burning Man festival because it was shelf stable and required no ice or refrigeration.  It was also intended to be cooling and refreshing despite all that.  The effect is accomplished by the Fernet Branca Menta.  For those whose Italian isn’t as good as mine, menta means “mint”.  Brenca Menta was made in the 1960’s in order to broaden the appeal of the legendarily aggressive Fernet Branca.  It’s more mild and refreshing than the original, but also too sweet on its own.  Here the Suze and tequila mellow things out and add depth to the drink.  I think of this as the polar opposite of the Tenochtitlan.  That one was cold but hot, whereas the Black Rock Chiller is room temperature but cool.

Recipe:

1 part Fernet Branca Menta

1 part Suze

1 part reposado tequila

-build the cocktail in a rocks glass and stir to mix