Rating
Not As Basic As You’d Think
Sights: Poor Rickey tries to be chill and open but definitely has a snobbish bent at times. On one occasion, folks at a neighboring table at La Cava proclaimed the ascendency of this cocktail and Rickey labeled them “Oh SO Basic”. It’s just a reddish-orange sugar bomb that you’d find at your local Tex-Mex chain restaurant, right? WRONG.
Smells: Slightly orangey with a savory kick from the salt.
Tastes: Oh dang, y’all, this bad boy is TASTY. They aren’t f’ing around with the booze, but they’ve somehow also made it refreshing and easily chuggable. The cocktail is built around your basic marg structure (booze + sweet + tart), but there’s more to it. The rum is subtle, though perhaps it smooths out the tequila a touch. The Ancho Reyes does not add a lot of spice, but that slight kick is present at the finish. The drink is sweet, to be sure, but it doesn’t make Rickey’s toes curl. Instead, the tart elements balance out that sweetness, making this a near-perfect marg.
Feels: Nice and juicy, and not too watered down.
Rick’s Tricks: Ok, so mysteries abound with the ingredients list here. Online they do not mention the Ancho Reyes and instead list “orange liqueur”. But the menu outside the venue features the Ancho with no specific reference to the orange. The version Rickey sampled definitely had a touch of spice AND was sufficiently orangey so he suspects that the outside signage is largely correct. Regardless, you might want to ask your server to clarify the ingredients, especially if the Ancho is a must-have.
Overall: This is how a sweeter drink should be done. All of the elements are present, the citrus balances the sweet, and there’s a bit of complexity overall. If you like orange and you’re a margarita fan, this one’s a winner.
More Info:
Location: La Cava del Tequila, Mexico Pavilion, World Showcase, EPCOT
Ingredients: Ambhar blanco tequila, Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur, sweet-tart mix of blood orange, hint of rum and vanilla, Tajin-chile-lime powder rim
Cost: $17
Are you a fan of this cocktail? Let Rickey know what you think in the comments!