Bittermelon, but in a cocktail? | mezcal, amaro Montenegro, bittermelon , passionfruit
Bitter Passion
Mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, Bitter melon, Passionfruit, Lime, Angostura Bitters
I’m pleasantly surprised at how this one came together. Bitter melon- the bane of my childhood, can be used in cocktails to be a bit more palatable! This cocktail is loosely (very loosely) inspired by bitter melon and egg, a dish that I had growing up.
Mezcal seemed like a good complement to bitter melon, with its vegetal and earthy flavor, and Amaro Montenegro goes very well with Mezcal while giving that Chinese medicine vibe and helps add a bit more depth. Passionfruit takes the drink in a tropical direction and provides a contrast to the earthiness of the other ingredients. And finally, egg white to bring the bring the drink thematically together.
To extract just enough of the bitterness, I opted for a maceration vs juicing + sugar. I suspect that much of the bitterness comes from the flesh anyway.
1.5 oz Mezcal
.5 oz Amaro Montenegro
.5 oz bitter melon syrup
.5 oz passionfruit puree
.5 oz lime juice
egg white
Garnish: Angostura bitters
Add all ingredients into a shaking tin and shake without ice, then add ice and shake until cold. Pour into a coupe glass, and garnish with angostura bitters.