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Say Anything

Photo of one of our best tequila cocktails Redcolored color in stemmed cocktail glass with mint leaf garnish
Photo by Shannon Sturgis

I wanted to make the perfect romantic-comedy homage in a drink—a little sweet, a little bitter, and HOT. The inspiration for the Say Anything, a great little summer sipper, came about when I was doing a new menu tasting with the staff at Leyenda. As I was miming the classic moment in the movie of the same name, where John Cusack holds the boombox over his head, I suddenly realized that none of the young staff knew what I was talking about. Oh, youth!

Ingredients

Jalapeño-infused tequila:

4 jalapeños
750 ml blanco tequila (I prefer tequila from the Tequila valley, such as Siembra Valles, Fortaleza, Arette, etc.)

Watermelon syrup:

2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
¾ cup superfine sugar

Say Anything cocktail:

1 oz jalapeño-infused Siembra Valles Blanco Tequila (see below)
½ oz Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça
½ oz Aperol
1 oz Watermelon Syrup (see below)
¾ oz lime juice
5 to 7 mint leaves
Lime wheel for garnish
Salt for garnish
  1. For the jalapeño-infused tequila:

    Step 1

    Remove the stems from the jalapeños. Cut the jalapeños in half and scrape the core (seeds and membranes) of two into a food-safe container. Dice the remaining jalapeños and place into the food-safe container. Add the tequila and allow to infuse for 12 to 20 minutes, depending on spice level desired. Rebottle.

    Step 2

    Note:The recipe for the jalapeño tequila will vary because not all jalapeños are equally spicy. You need to taste it frequently to make sure it’s right. Ensure your tequila is not cold, as cold tequila will not infuse properly.

  2. For the watermelon syrup:

    Step 3

    Blend the watermelon in a blender to yield about 12 ounces of juice. Add the sugar and blend again until fully dissolved. Transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

  3. Cocktail assembly:

    Step 4

    Add all the ingredients, except for 1 mint leaf, the lime wheel, and salt, to a cocktail shaker with ice. Wet the outside of a coupe glass with the lime wheel and roll the glass in salt for a salted rim. Shake and fine-strain into the glass. Garnish with the mint leaf—first pressed lightly to express its oils—by floating it on top of the drink.

FromSpirits of Latin America: A Celebration of Culture & Cocktails, with 100 Recipes from Leyenda & Beyondby Ivy Mix, copyright © 2020. Photographs by Shannon Sturgis. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Pre-order the full book fromAmazon.
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  • perfect drink. I highly recommend it!

    • diegoar07

    • Monterrey, México

    • 9/10/2020

  • Love this cocktail! Not only does it look amazing in a coupe, but the aroma of watermelon, orange, lime and a trace of mint fills the senses before the summer-fresh flavors hit the palate. Not too sweet, not too sour, not too boozy, just perfectly balanced with a little heat on the finish. So refreshing, the perfect summertime cocktail!

    • mrscakes

    • Portland, OR

    • 6/14/2020

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