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Chasers

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  • Neat — or straight up—is how many aficionados enjoy premium tequila and mezcal. But if the mood calls for an accompanying flavor, ask for one of the following chasers.

  • Wedge of Lime and Lick of Salt is the most famous of all tequila chasers. The order of ingesting the three has generated a mini-war among aficionados. Just experiment to see which succession you prefer.

  • Beer is also served as a chaser. A flavorful ale does wonders to calm the intensity of tequila.

  • Sal de gusano, Spanish for "worm salt" is the only one true chase for Mezcals. Sal de gusano is a powdered combination of chile pepper, salt and a roasted gusano, a caterpillar that lives off the agave plant. With a wedge of lime, sal de gusano acts as the perfect chaser to accompany the smoky taste of mezcal.

 

Photo by Janaap Dekker

Sangrita, a spicy, tomato-based, non-alcoholic beverage, is served cold in a shot glass. It is enjoyed intermittently between sips of tequila.

Serves 4

  • 16 oz. tomato juice
  • 8 oz. fresh orange juice
  • 1 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 1 1/2 oz. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
  • 1 tsp. finely minced onion
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • cracked ice
  • 1 qt. cocktail shaker
  • cocktail strainer

 

  1. Place cracked ice in shaker
  2. Combine all ingredients in the shaker. Shake for 30 seconds and strain into a small pitcher.
  3. Serve in shot glasses.

— Chef Agustín Gaytán