Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal

Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal is a unique and innovative cocktail that infuses the smoky richness of mezcal with the savory depth of fat-washing, typically using ingredients like bacon or olive oil.

  • 5 min
  • Easy
  • Beer Glass
  • 3 ingredients
Hero bottle: Mezcal →

Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal

Ingredients

1
  • Mezcal2 oz
  • Chocolate liqueur¾ oz
  • Coffee liqueur½ oz

Method

  1. To ensure that your pork fat is just as delicious as theirs, here’s their adobo marinade and what to do with it (you’ll also need a rack of ribs):
  2. 4 ancho chiles, 8 guajillo chiles and 4 chipotle chiles, plus 4 cloves roasted garlic, half a cup of cider vinegar, a quarter teaspoon of Mexican oregano, 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper, a whole clove, a quarter teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a half teaspoon of ground cumin.
  3. Toast the dried chiles and soak in water for at least an hour until they are rehydrated. Drain and discard the soaking liquid. Combine the soaked chiles with the remaining ingredients and purée until smooth.
  4. Cold smoke a rack of baby back pork ribs by taking a large hotel pan with woodchips on one side and charcoal on the other. Place another, smaller, pan with pork ribs, above the charcoal/woodchip pan. Ignite the charcoal, being careful to not ignite the woodchips. Cover both pans with foil and allow to smoke for 10-15 minutes, until desired level of smoke is achieved, then coat with adobo marinade and wrap in tin foil prior to placing ribs in a 300 degree oven for 7 hours. When the ribs have cooled, strain off the fat and use for the infusion.
  5. If you’re having a hard time coming up to the same kind of volume of fat, make up the balance with pork lard from a butcher. To get the same depth of flavor without the ribs, heat up the fat in a pot with a few spoons of the marinade.
  6. Once you’ve got your tub of seasoned pork fat in cooled liquid form, pour equal amounts of Ilegal Joven mezcal and fat into a sealable container. Seal the container and give it a really good shake, then put it in the freezer overnight. When the whole thing is separated and congealed, pour it through a fine mesh chinoise. If you don’t have a chinoise, try a fine mesh strainer, or if you don’t have one of those, try spooning off most of the fat. There will be some beads of orange fat left in the strained mezcal: run that through a few layers of cheesecloth (or coffee filters in a pinch) to get rid of the last of it.
  7. The mezcal is now ready for drinking, straight-up or in a cocktail.
  8. Habanero tincture
  9. Slice habaneros and add 2 ounces Ilegal Joven mezcal.
  10. Allow to sit overnight or until desired level of heat is achieved.
  11. Cocktail
  12. Combine mezcal and chocolate liqueur in a mixing glass with ice and stir for 45 seconds.
  13. Strain into chilled coupe.
  14. Carefully "sink" the coffee liqueur down the inside of the coupe over a spoon.
  15. Garnish with 5 drops habanero tincture.
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What you need

Nothing fancy. Here is what to look for. We earn a small cut if you buy through these links, at no cost to you.

A shaker that seals

Two weighted tins beat three-piece shakers. They chill faster and never jam.

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A Hawthorne strainer

The coiled spring holds back ice and pulp. Look for a tight coil.

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A double jigger

Marked in oz and ml, with lines inside for the small measures.

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The hero bottle

A Mexican spirit made from agave, most of it from Oaxaca. It's usually around 40 to 50% ABV. Smoke first, from agave hearts roasted in underground pits, then sweet agave, earth and citrus. Imagine tequila that spent the evening by a campfire.

See 1 Mezcal drinks

Where it comes from

Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal represents cutting-edge contemporary mixology at a celebrated New York restaurant, showcasing advanced infusion techniques and spirit manipulation. This sophisticated preparation method—fat washing—transforms traditional mezcal through infusion of savory, umami-forward elements like bacon or other rendered fats. The technique demonstrates the intersection of culinary innovation and bartending craft that defines modern high-end restaurant bars.

Tips from the bar

  • Employ proper fat-washing technique: infuse room-temperature fat into spirit, freeze to separate, then strain carefully through cheesecloth
  • use premium mezcal as the base to honor traditional spirits
  • balance savory fat infusion with citrus and complementary ingredients
  • serve in appropriate spirits-forward glassware
  • pair with food-forward dining concepts

Twists worth trying

Olive Oil Mezcal
A refined version using premium olive oil infusion for Mediterranean complexity
Smoked Fat Mezcal
a smokehouse adaptation featuring bacon or smoked fat for intense savory notes
Herb-Infused Mezcal
a botanical variation incorporating herb-infused oil for aromatic qualities

What to eat with it

  • Cured pork
  • charred vegetables
  • aged cheese
  • smoked fish
  • mushroom risotto
  • mole negro

The finished drink

Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal

Questions

What is in a Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal?

A Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal is made with mezcal, chocolate liqueur, coffee liqueur.

What glass do you use for a Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal?

Serve a Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal in a beer glass.

What does a Empellón Cocina's Fat-Washed Mezcal taste like?

Expect smoky, rich, savory.

One good drink, every Friday.

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