Ruta del cacao cocktail by Luis Ávila

The Cacao Route fortified by Cardenal Mendoza 

This Cacao Route began in Mexico in the year 1520, with Cacao reaching the ports of Andalucia, and later extended to the rest of Central America uniting two hitherto unknown worlds. Cacao was a valuable trading currency being an extremely tasty product which even aroused lust…

The idea for this cocktail came from the closely related dates uniting the glorious era of Cardenal Mendoza and the shining epoch of Cacao in Spain and later Europe.

In pre Columbus America chocolate was seasoned with chilli giving a bitter spicy mixture, and this gave me the idea for the cocktail, starting sweet in the mouth from the notes of Cacao and grape from the Sherry, with lots of body on the tongue leaving citric orange notes and finishing spicy and slightly hot from the chilli. 

A real delicacy for refined palates at aperitif time or for sharing a meal round the table with our group of “noble friends”.

Recipe:

• 60ml of Cardenal Mendoza
• 30ml of licor de cacao
• Juice of one orange and orange peel 
• 15ml of homemade syrup (peperonchino, blueberrys, balsamic vinegar, sugar and water )
• 3 dashes of bitters 
• 1 twist of orange peel 
• Smoked cacao nibs

Glass: old fashion 

Garnish: twist of orange peel with a few cacao nibs 

Elaboration: macerate a round slice of orange keeping the juice and discarding the rest, fill the shaker with ice, add all the ingredients, shake well and double strain, serve in a glass with an ice ball, aromatise with a twist of orange and finally give the cocktail a smoky note by gently burning Cacao beans over a flame and decorate.

Luis Ávila

Mixologist in Panama and founder of Mixologist, a boutique events agency specialising in creating premium experiences through cocktails unique in Panama. The founders are siblings Patricia and Luis Ávila who have dedicated themselves to the task of demonstrating the wonderful experiences it is possible to find in the world of cocktails and new fusions of drinks, alcoholic or not.

For Luis Ávila, director of Mixologist, it is fundamental to be able to show the public that the strong point of mixology is top level artisan cocktail making for which they look for the added value in the world of drinks.