Writer Cory Brady on dumping the Margarita for the Milagro Mercadito

What goes best with Tequila? Much more than you think, says Milagro Tequila ambassador, J.P. DeLoera. And he’s willing to prove it.

Last week, the Hatch got its hands dirty at Dish Restaurant and Lounge  in Dallas, making Milagro Tequila cocktails from scratch at an event hosted by Milagro Tequila. DeLoera said the idea is to show people the variety of drinks that can be made with tequila outside of the traditional Margarita or serving it neat.

The festivities were held outside on the covered patio, and while the temperature steadily dropped and rain began to fall, the 15 guests kept warm by playing bartender for a night. We were seated four to a table with all the tools and ingredients laid out before us to make some unique and delicious cocktails.

DeLoera began by giving a brief history of the Milagro brand, which began in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico just 15 years ago. The tequila aficionado then walked us through step-by-step how to prepare three different Milagro cocktails using a wide range of ingredients from Jalapeños to pineapples to cinnamon. In between drinks, Dish provided some much needed nourishment with an assortment of tasty appetizers.

My favorite drink of the evening was the Mercadito. We each selected four cucumber slices and a Jalapeño slice from our serving trays. Next we added a pinch of cilantro and muddled our ingredients together (that’s bartender lingo, I learned, for crush. With a muddler, of course).

Next we measured out 2 ounces of pre-prepared Milagro Agave Nectar, added two ounces of Milagro Silver Tequila, some ice and shook the ingredients together in our Boston shaker glass. Strained into a glass with fresh ice, the Mercadito was simple to make and went down smooth.

It’s a drink you can really sip and savor. The aromatics of the cilantro hit you first, followed by the subtly sweet, Earthy Agave syrup, and finishing with the spicy kick of the Jalapeño. This cocktail is not for the feint of heart (or palate), but the fiery twist was the perfect recipe for the chilly night.