Verde Shots Recipe: Tequila with a Green Chaser

Ingredients

1¼ oz blanco tequila served in its own glasse.g. Olmeca Altos · Patrón · Don Julio · Espolòn · El Jimador
1¼ oz pineapple juice for the verde
2 sprig cilantro
4 leaves mint leaves
1 slice jalapeño seeds removed for less heat
¼ oz lime juice optional, to brighten (optional)

Garnish: None · Ice: Served up, no ice

Method

Put pineapple juice, cilantro, mint, jalapeño and lime juice (if using) in a blender and blend until smooth.
Strain through a fine sieve for a cleaner texture and chill.
Pour the tequila into one shot glass and the verde into a second.
Serve side by side and sip them alternately rather than shooting them.

Watch it made

Verde Shots (Tequila with Verdita)

Taste

The tequila brings pepper and cooked agave; the chaser answers with sweet pineapple, cool mint, grassy cilantro and a gentle green chili heat.

History and origin

The verde, often called verdita, is a green chaser for tequila built on the same idea as Mexico's sangrita: a small glass of something fruity, tart and spicy served next to a straight tequila and sipped in turns. Where sangrita is red with orange, lime and chili, the verde relies on pineapple juice blended with fresh herbs such as cilantro and mint and a little green chili.

It became popular in modern tequila and mezcal bars as a fresher alternative to sangrita and as a way to enjoy a good blanco tequila slowly rather than knocking it back with salt and lime. There is no known inventor, and recipes vary from bar to bar.

Bartender tips

A 100% agave blanco tequila is essential here, since it is served neat.
Make the verde fresh or at most a few hours ahead; the herbs lose color and aroma quickly.
Adjust the heat with the jalapeño: start with one slice, taste and add more if you like.

Variations

Tequila with sangrita: The red original: tequila with a chaser of orange, lime, chili and often tomato.
Mezcal with verde: Swap the tequila for mezcal; the smoky spirit pairs well with the herbal chaser.
Verde highball: Easy twist: shake tequila and verde together with ice and top with soda water.