Tinto de Verano? Si! Aperol Spritz? Claro! Tequila & Tonic… come again? At first suggestion, this concoction might sound like something you’d mix up at the end of the night with your bar leftovers. But the team behind El Rayo Tequila is adamant that this potent and refreshing recipe will revolutionise our summer!
Born out of the desire to share the culture, attitude and flavours of modern Mexico, El Rayo is a London-based Tequila brand that works exclusively with hand-planted, hand-harvested Blue Agave plants. The result is a natural-tasting spirit with a savoury edge that is available in two different ranges – both of which pair perfectly with a tart Indian Tonic.
The ‘No.1 Plata’ Tequila has a vibrant palette of herbal and floral notes with hints of pepper and pineapple. Meanwhile, the ‘No.2 Reposado’ variation offers a complex mix of aromatic spices and burnt orange with a touch of caramel and almond.
The young company’s eye-catching logo and branding was inspired by Mexican folklore surrounding the creation of Tequila. According to ancient myth, an old ‘campesino’ witnessed a lightning bolt strike the Blue Agave and, after following the glow of the smouldering fire, found the cooked plant. His discovery is said to have led to the birth of Tequila, one of Mexico’s largest exports and a huge symbol of national pride.
Rather than a cheap way to get drunk, in its country of origin the agave spirit is respected as a kind of natural medicine and credited with health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, improving stress levels, curing colds or clearing up stomach problems. El Rayo’s mission is to honour Tequila culture with a quality product that shows its depth, yet remains unpretentious and accessible in price.
How to make the perfect El Rayo Tequila & Tonic:
Designed to be sipped, not slammed; the T&T is overhauling tequila’s reputation as a sure-fire hangover merchant. Seemingly giving a nod to Mexico’s most popular tequila cocktail, the Paloma, the recipe combines the natural flavours of El Rayo with tangy tonic and a slice of bittersweet grapefruit. It’s simple, it’s clean and it’s a thoroughly modern take on a thirst-quencher with a kick!
You need:
- 40ml of El Rayo Tequila
- Grapefruit
- Indian Tonic (The EL Rayio team recommends Double Dutch)
Directions:
- Fill a highball glass with lots of ice
- Add 40ml of El Rayo Tequila
- Mix with the Indian Tonic
- Garnish with a wedge of bittersweet grapefruit and serve
We haven’t had a chance yet to try this mix for ourselves but with the July heat sweltering on in Ibiza, we are thoroughly tempted! If you get your mix on, please tag us in your posts with @tribethemag. Salud!
El Rayo is available to buy from elrayotequila.com.
