Chimayó Cocktail

Chimayó Cocktail

A beloved Southwestern classic from New Mexico, the Chimayó Cocktail blends apple brandy with fresh lemon and a whisper of local honey. It's traditionally sipped beside the legendary Santuario de Chimayó, where pilgrims pause for stories as much as for drinks.

Prep

5 min

Total

5 min

Serves

1

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •60 ml (2 fl oz) apple brandy, traditionally local apple brandy from northern New Mexico; Calvados or a domestic apple brandy is the closest substitute
• •30 ml (1 fl oz) fresh lemon juice, from 1 large lemon, freshly squeezed
• •15 ml (½ fl oz) honey syrup, dissolve 30 g / 2 Tbsp local wildflower honey in 30 ml / 2 fl oz warm water; Chimayó honey is traditional but any mild floral honey works
• •1 whole lemon wheel, for garnish
• •1 pinch ground chile or cinnamon, optional rim seasoning; Chimayó red chile powder is traditional

Steps

1. 1 Optional rim: moisten the outside of a chilled coupe or martini glass with a lemon wedge, then dip the rim into a small plate of ground Chimayó red chile, cinnamon, or a mix of the two.
2. 2 Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the apple brandy, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and honey syrup.
3. 3 Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well frosted.
4. 4 Strain into the prepared chilled glass.
5. 5 Garnish with a thin lemon wheel and serve immediately.