Mixed with Campari and tequila, you won’t want to sleep on the full-bodied Siesta Cocktail.
When I think of Campari, I think of James Bond’s father-in-law, Marc-Ange Draco, who loved one on the rocks in the afternoon when he wasn’t drinking Corsican brandy. I also think of my current favorite cocktail, the Negroni. An equal mix of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, my first taste had me hooked. Both bitter and sweet, I had never tasted anything quite like it. And apart from the Americano, I wasn’t aware of any other cocktails that were served with the bright red Italian liqueur.
Until I heard about something called the Siesta cocktail… This drink is relatively new to the scene, especially since many of our classic cocktails have been around for hundreds of years. In the grand scheme of mixed drinks, the Siesta is still just a kid.
Katie Stipe, a talented and creative mixologist, invented the Siesta while working at the Flatiron Lounge in New York City. It was around 2006 when she came up with a complex and sophisticated alternative to the Margarita and Paloma. Taking a Hemingway Daiquiri and riffing on it like a jazz musician, Stipe swapped the rum for tequila, then made a brilliant discovery in taste when she switched out the maraschino for Campari. The drink began to catch on and spread through the city to other bars as its popularity grew. In 2011, the Siesta was featured in Jim Meehan’s The PDT Cocktail Book, cementing the drink’s reputation as a modern classic.
What is the best tequila to use to make a Siesta cocktail?
A good, smooth blanco tequila will play well with the bitter red Campari. As the liqueur has a pretty bold taste, the blanco won’t fight with it as they come together. A spicier tequila, like a reposado, competes too much with the Campari and distracts from the cocktail’s overall experience.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce Campari
- 1/2 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce grapefruit juice freshly squeezed
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until it is thoroughly mixed and chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a wedge of grapefruit.
Nutrition
What kind of glassware and garnish are used?
For a Siesta, you’ll need a chilled coupe glass. A sophisticated drink like this demands to be seen in just the right ensemble. You can chill your coupe by sticking it in the freezer for about 15 minutes before serving, or fill it with ice and dump the cubes before you pour. Stick a wedge of grapefruit on the side and you’re golden.
Will the Siesta cocktail make me sleepy?
On the contrary, the first sip will wake you up! The bitter Campari mixed with the bright tequila hits your taste buds with just the right spark. On a hot summer night, this drink is very refreshing and might even get you out on the dancefloor.
Siesta Cocktail Variations
Love the Siesta cocktail and want more drinks that feature the delights of Campari? Check out some of these other recipes from Twist and Toast:
- Rosita Cocktail – Here’s another Campari- and tequila-based cocktail that you never knew you needed.
- The Americano – The first cocktail James Bond drank in the Ian Fleming novels is a bubbly concoction of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water.
- Negroni – A true classic that would be rude to leave out.
- Classic Aperol Spritz – Still find Campari too bitter? Then check out our recipe for the Aperol Spritz, featuring the lighter-tasting alternative.
Leave a Comment