Far less sinister than it sounds – this name conjures images of a smoking clay jar of bootleg mescal, leaded gasoline and dysentery. At least, that’s what I pictured when I saw the name while scanning Trader Vic’s 1947 Bartender’s Guide (a recent Amazon acquisition).

The reality is not so devilish, or really even Mexican. But man, is it tasty. I tried this drink out on an unsuspecting Cindy a few months ago, with great success. And now I find myself making them once every week or so.

In a lowball glass…

1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz Creme de Cassis Liquor
1 oz Gold Tequila
2 oz Ginger Ale
Serve with crushed ice

The tart lime, sweet cassis and spicy ginger ale form a great balanced drink – although even the half-ounce of cassis is pretty syrupy. While I really like this drink, it tastes like it’s just shy of being great. I thought maybe it’s a little shy on spice, so I’ve tried it with stronger ginger ales or ginger beers, but the balance is much harder to strike and it mostly ends up way too gingery. Hmmm. Well, it’ll be a long hard effort to figure it out.

Wait. No it won’t, it’ll be fabulous.

Nevermind.