Oak-aged tequila meets the sweet-sour pulp of tamarind, and a half rim of chili-lime salt lets you decide each sip how much heat you want. Tart, fruity and warming at once.
2 oz
añejo tequilae.g. Patrón · Don Julio · Herradura · Espolòn
1 oz
lime juice freshly squeezed
½ oz
agave syrup adjust to taste
½ oz
tamarind nectar
pinch of
chili-lime salt Tajín for a half rim
Garnish: Half rim of chili-lime salt · Ice: Served up, no ice
El Duelo
Tangy tamarind and lime over vanilla and caramel from the aged tequila, with salty chili heat from the rim. Medium bodied and lively.
El Duelo is a modern tequila sour rather than a historic classic, and its creator is not documented. It borrows its flavours from Mexican street food and candy culture, where tamarind, lime and chili salt are classic companions, and from agua de tamarindo, the sweet-sour tamarind drink sold across Mexico.
Structurally it is a tequila sour sweetened with agave, the same template as the Tommy's Margarita, with tamarind nectar adding fruit and body. Using añejo tequila gives vanilla and oak notes that stand up well to the tangy tamarind.
A Mexican seasoning of chili, salt and dehydrated lime, widely sold in supermarkets.
Latin American and Asian grocers stock it, often in cans or cartons.
Yes, it gives a fresher, more agave-forward drink with less oak.
The perfect sound
A passionate duel by candlelight.
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