It’s never too early to shake things up for summer.
Shaking up cocktails, that is.
For us, sherry has never been anything more than something we cook with. Or a woman with a lamb puppet on her hand.
But Tio Pepe is making us rethink our stance on the liquor alternative. Technically a fino sherry, which is the driest and lightest style, Tio Pepe has a low 15% alcohol by volume. That means you can enjoy more tilt-backs of your head without getting completely blotto.
We’re not ready to drink it straight just yet, but in a cocktails it brings a completely new layer of flavor to old standbys.
Our favorite is the TioJito, a sherry-fied version of the traditional rum mojito. It’s easy to mix and even easier to drink.
Then again, we’re swallowers by nature. So there’s no such thing as a difficult-to-drink cocktail.
Though we’re willing to continue our quest for one.
Tio Pepe
$20 or less, 750ml
www.tiopepe.co.uk
TioJito Recipe:
2 oz. Tio Pepe
4 oz. Sprite or Lemonade
Ice
Fresh Mint
Lemon
To make, simply pour 2 oz. of Tio Pepe over ice and muddled mint in a tumbler glass, mix with 4 oz. of lemonade or Sprite and add a slice of lemon.
