Rating
A Decent Cocktail That Most Of You Will Hate
Sights: The lime is as dehydrated as Rickey after a night at Jellyrolls. But unlike Rickey, it’s something you might actually want to see in such a state. With that, the Negroni Blanco is ultra clear, hearkening back to the glory days of Crystal Pepsi. Why is it so mind blowing when a drink is supposed to be one color, but it’s actually see-through? Marketing at its finest.
Smells: It smells a bit like a grass fire, which Rickey DEFINITELY did not start.
Tastes: Rickey’s drinking buds detested this drink with a passion unmatched, even by their love for getting hammered and riding Gran Fiesta Tour. In less poetic terms, they refused to drink it (and these absolutely perfect souls will drink ANYTHING).
So why is it garnering a 4 ChEARS rating? Because it’s complex, well-balanced and interesting. If you like mega boozy drinks that feature smoky mezcal, balanced with sweet and bitter orange, finished with the vegetal hints of cucumber, this drink meets those oddly specific parameters. It’s not an easy drink to love, but Rickey kept coming back for more.
Feels: Slightly syrupy, but ultimately light and refreshing.
Rick’s Tricks: This cocktail is fairly new to La Cava. They used to have a slightly more traditional Negroni on the menu called El Negroni, which had mezcal, but in a much smaller quantity (and in combo with gin). Rickey thinks they will still make that one if you ask nicely.
But seriously, don’t get this drink unless you like the sweet and bitter notes of a Negroni and you are a serious mezcal fan. This cocktail just simply does not have mass appeal.
Overall: Rickey has shamelessly boarded the Negroni train and plans to ride it until it derails. He loves the Negroni Blanco because it features all the elements of a Negroni (i.e. bitter, sweet and slightly herbal). But it does so in a unique way, using very different sorts of ingredients and flavors. If you are brave, and you’ve got $20 to burn, just give it a try.
More Info:
Location: La Cava del Tequila, Mexico Pavilion, World Showcase, EPCOT
Ingredients: Montelobos ensamble mezcal, Cocchi Americano apertivo, Luxardo bitter bianco, cucumber bitters
Cost: $20
Have you braved this cocktail yet? Let Rickey know what you think in the comments!