Farm to Bar
Drink of the Week: The Gun Slinger
Halloween holds a special place in my heart. Growing up in Isla Vista during the couch-burning craze of the ‘80s makes you a little funny that way. The costumes, the candy, the late night, sugar-rushed co-eds (at least that’s what I was told they were on), and, above all, the stories.
Freaking out little kids was a specialty in the I.V. 80s. The first time I heard the tales of Stephen King was in an F.T. dorm room. My poker-hand paper cup of hot chocolate gripped so tight, I thought my heart was going to explode.
It’s with this inspiration that I give you, ‘The Gun Slinger.’ Paired with the desert rock band Queens of the Stone Age’s new song, ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’, this smoky, spooky, spicy margarita represents the true West’s darker side.
Here’s how to make it:
-Cut up 1 ghost chili and add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Simmer for 30 minutes and cool. (You can also muddle the chili in a simple syrup, but that will yield a very inconsistent spice level.)
-Combine 1oz of your chili syrup with 1oz fresh lime juice, 2oz Mescal and 2oz
Tequila. Shake with ice and pour into half salted rocks glass; garnish with sage.
Patrick Reynolds is an Independent Foodie-award-winning local cook turned Barkeep. Founder of Farm to Bar, you can find him at the farmers market and Wildcat Lounge every Tuesday.
