// DRINKS
COCKTAILS
Tankwa Karoo Old Fashioned
A variation on the Old Fashioned
made with 1800 Tequila.
TANKWA KAROO OLD FASHIONED
Cutting through the expanse of the Great Karoo, the crystal-clear waters of the Tankwarivier cut through this semidesert like an oasis of refreshment in an otherwise arid expanse.
Like an echo of its sister terrain in western Mexico, the Karoo semidesert has become the agave plant’s second home. This cocktail was inspired by the dialogue between Mexico and the Karoo and celebrates the diversity of the aloe and the miracle of water.
Rinse the glass with 15 ml tequila. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake 135 ml 1800 Tequila, 15 ml agave syrup and 3 drops bitters together until properly cooled down. Pour into the glass over a large, sculpted ice cube. Top with 50 ml Indian tonic.
Get the JAN Cocktail Guide for a preserved aloe garnish recipe
THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO
There are some who argue that tequila and mezcal depend more on their terroir than any other spirit. While members of the brandy and cognac family might disagree, how the fragile agave plant is treated – where it grows, what the climate is like, and how it is harvested – has a very direct impact on the quality of the spirit. Also, the agave plant matures for 10 years before it is harvested (compare that with a vineyard’s three- to four-year maturation period and you’ll get a newfound respect for tequila producers).
