“Vodka or gin?” The martini typically only calls for one of two spirits, but in an unexpected twist on the drink of the moment, let us offer you an alternative: tequila.
The Dirty Highlands is Mijenta’s take on a devilishly dirty martini, combining the brand’s latest release – a limited edition Cristalino – with vermouth and olive brine. Crafted in the highlands of Jalisco in western Mexico, the tequila was born out of a desire for experimentation at the hands of master tequilera Ana María Romero Mena.
To this end, this Cristalino was aged in symphony barrels – meaning barrels made from a combination of different staves – which included American Oak from the forests of Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The expression was aged for eight months to allow its richness to evolve, before undergoing a precise filtering phase that removed the liquid’s color, yet none of its complexity.
Unlike many mainstream tequilas, Mijento is proudly additive-free, and puts sustainability first: As with previous expression, the Cristalino packaging is fully eco-friendly, using recycled glass for the bottle and stopper, and 100% post-consumer recycled paper for its box.
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“As a result of the meticulous process, our Cristalino possesses the richness of an Añejo, drinks like a Reposado and is perfect for cocktails that require a clear spirit, like the martini,” said Mijenta co-founder Juan Coronado.
Alive with sweet notes of coconut and vanilla, as well as gentle hints of cooked agave, the Mijento Cristalino matches up to the deeply savory flavors of a dirty martini with an unabashed confidence that makes even vodka and gin envious. Want to up the savory levels? Switch out the three green olives with a frozen blue cheese olive – prep them ahead of time and freeze until just solid.
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Ingredients:
- 2.5 oz Mijenta Cristalino
- 0.75 oz dry vermouth
- 3 dashes of saline solution
- 1 bar spoon of olive brine
- green olives
Method:
Stir the tequila, vermouth, saline solution and olive brine with plenty of ice until cold and strain into in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with three green olives on a cocktail stick.