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Fruity, sour and zesty, the Siesta is the perfect ‘grown-up’ twist on the Margarita.
About the cocktail
Guess who’s back? Back again. No, it’s not Slim Shady (thank goodness), it’s cocktail master and hospo guru, Cara Devine. And she’s brought with her another delicious cocktail for you to try at home – the Siesta, a fun twist on a Margarita. Not familiar with Cara? She’s been a friend of Dan’s from the very beginning. We’ve learned all about the drink that inspired her to become a bartender and the cocktail she’s now known for. More recently, she whipped up the cracking Passionfruit Caipiroska for us, and it was seriously delish. Outside of Dan’s, Cara has fingers in many pies – running successful YouTube channel Behind the Bar, and running a new bar with friends called Goodwater. So, we’re pretty stoked she found time in her hectic schedule to get mixing with us. “It’s basically a Margarita, but all grown up!” says Cara, explaining the idea behind the Siesta. It’s got all the classic Margarita elements – lime, sugar and tequila – but minus the triple sec, which has been swapped for Campari. Then there’s grapefruit juice (how very Paloma), and aged reposado tequila instead of blanco. “The Campari and tequila might seem like an unusual combo, but it really works well here,” explains Cara. “Tequila has these lovely grassy, herbal notes, and the gentle bitterness of the Campari brings them to the front.” But it’s the grapefruit that really ties it all together. “It’s a really important bridging flavour, as it pairs so well with both, highlighting those citrus notes.” With Campari and grapefruit juice in the mix, this drink definitely leans towards the sour and bitter side. That’s why Cara’s opted for reposado over a bitey blanco tequila. “The sweet spice from the oak on the tequila plays really well with the other flavours, giving the drink a richer, fuller profile,” she says. The result is a well-rounded, bittersweet yet fresh cocktail. If you’re up for the Devine Siesta challenge, have a squiz at Cara’s notes below.
Watch: How to make the Siesta
Ingredients
45mL reposado tequila
10mL Campari 15mL fresh grapefruit juice 20mL lime juice 20mL sugar syrup Glass: coupe Garnish: grapefruit twist
Method
Chuck all your ingredients into a shaker with ice Shake until the cocktail tin is nice and frosty Strain the mix into a chilled Martini glass or coupe Garnish with a grapefruit twist
Cara’s top tips
Margs might be easy to make, but shaking up the perfect one takes a bit of practice – and the Siesta is no different. So, here are a few of Cara’s top tips and tricks. First off, always use a jigger and be precise with your measurements. “As much as I’m a ‘throw it all together’ type bartender, a jigger is still important to use when mixing at home, and this drink is a good example of that,” explains Cara. “Using too much Campari will really quickly overtake the drink, so make sure you measure everything to keep it balanced.” If you’re not a fan of reposado tequila, or simply don’t have any, blanco tequila works fine, too – but just know it will make the drink a bit brighter and greener in flavour. And, most importantly, fresh is always best – especially for Margarita-style drinks. You just don’t get that zest or zing from store-bought citrus juice. As for when to drink the Siesta? “This is a party-starter cocktail,” says Cara. “I’d have it at the start of the night, and the bold flavours go well with spice, so put it on the menu next time you’re hosting Taco Tuesday.”
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