The laps around Brisbane have been in preparation for my entry for the World Class Sangrita Ritual. It's been coordinated alongside Marco's as part of a joint promotion for Canvas and to help both of our causes. Basically it's been all over Facebook, and everyone has learnt the beauty of the word "Empiricism"
Here's the pitch:
“A Little Blood for a Silver Peace”
Ingredients:
Jose Cuervo Platino, served chilled in vintage sherry glasses (to combat the heat of Brisbane);
Stumptown Guatemala El Injerto Bourbon Coffee, brewed to order using a Syphon Brewer, courtesy of a cross-promotion with Cup Coffee Roasters;
‘Sangre de Remontel’ bespoke choc-orange-chilli macaron courtesy of a cross-promotion with Monsieur Macaron of Brisbane.
Background:
This Ritual takes its name from an old spaghetti-western movie, and references the life of Mexican President and warrior Santa Anna, who lost a leg fighting the French in the ‘Pastry War’ of the 1830s.
After a decade of discord in the new Mexican Republic, a French Patisserie chef in Mexico City cried for assistance from Paris in seeking reparations for damages to his property that were dealt by militants under the control of Santa Anna.
The French government’s demands were not met and they quickly invaded, destroying the Mexican Navy and occupying Mexico’s major port at Veracruz.
Santa Anna had been happily retired at his nearby estate, passing his days with locally grown coffee and mezcal, when he returned without mandate to lead forces against the French. Santa Anna lost a leg in this battle, which led to his fresh rise to power in Mexico. The battle was a catalyst for peace between the two nations, and we celebrate that now, combining the No. 1 tequila, bespoke macarons, and single-estate coffee.
The Ritual:
The centrepiece of the ritual is the Jose Cuervo Platino. Bright stonefruit flavours, vanilla sweetness, and earthy notes characterise this exceptionally smooth tequila. It is served slightly chilled to combat the high ambient temperatures in Brisbane and to contrast with the coffee. This tequila is super smooth and delicate, and really deserves the ultra-premium label. The challenge from here is to find delicate and desirable accompaniments to do such a wonderful product justice.
The coffee we’ve matched with the Platino is Guatemalan Finca El Injerto Bourbon prepared by Cup Coffee Roasters locally in West End. Floral and acidic at the start, with an amaretto and berry midpalate and sweet cocoa finish, it is prepared spectacularly in an evaporation-method brewer. The coffee syphon functions by allowing us to brew our coffee precisely in the top chamber before creating a vacuum in the bottom chamber to filter it off for service. Using a light-medium roast and a course grind, we can capture the essence of this single-origin coffee, selected to pair with both the nutty, citrus-sweet macaron, and our delicate tequila protagonist. This truly is accessible luxury, for only a few dollars per cup.
The macaron as we see it today is a bespoke creation for “A Little Blood for a Silver Peace”. Created in collaboration with Monsieur Macaron in a local specialty patisserie, our crisp-shelled delicacy has a gorgeous pastel hue with a hint of chilli spice, and a Grand Marnier and chocolate ganache filling. This is an ancient patisserie treat, and has been famous in its present form since the early 20thC. Macarons are currently desirable globally with the recent openings of boutiques in Tokyo, New York, and throughout Europe from celebrated Parisian patisserie chefs. The flavours of orange and chilli give us a reminiscence of the original sangrita, but we are keeping the flavours strictly sweet in the form of the macaron.
Grand Marnier, chocolate, the macaron itself, all of these are ritually consumed together with coffee, right around the world. Coffee itself is available to any flavour profile desired thanks to the delicate craft of roasters, and as a daily indulgence is enjoyed more than any other beverage around the world, though only rarely is it so carefully selected and handled. We are truly dealing with the top end of the coffee world right here.
As for our centrepiece, the Platino, it has been well documented within the bartending community that tequila pairs exceptionally with orange, chocolate, chilli and coffee. At this level of sophistication, only carefully selected products will match with such a carefully produced spirit. So to do this particular delicacy justice, and to completely enjoy the combination of flavours, along with the accompanying empirical nuances that you will enjoy - the temperature and mouthfeel of the coffee, and the gorgeous dual texture of the macaron - indulge yourself in “A Little Blood for a Silver Peace”. Imagine yourself as Santa Anna, brokering peace with a missing leg, presiding over your sunny hacienda, lord of your domain, with time and space to enjoy life’s three great luxuries.
