Introduction

Opa!

The summer heat continues to bear down on us all. With that, we’re all looking for a place to park ourselves, stay cool, and enjoy a refreshing drink. All sorts of beverages and cocktails come to mind, but the margarita may very well be one of the most popular. They’re thirst-quenching, zippy, and with just enough of a bite from the tequila to stimulate the senses. And to keep imbibers on their toes, margaritas come in different variations. With KLEOS Mastiha Spirit, the possibilities open up even more.

Mythology of Mixology: Margarita Edition

There’s no real documentation regarding the creation of the first margarita. Whoever invented it must have had a few margaritas! Check out this article, “History of the Margarita Cocktail,” from Difford’s Guide, which lays out a dizzying array of possible origin stories. Bridging the gap between myth and mixology, the margarita is also a type of cocktail called a daisy. Daisies are a class of cocktails consisting of a spirit, liqueur (usually orange), and citrus. In fact, if you peruse an index of cocktail categories, you’ll see the margarita listed as the given example of a daisy. The significance of this detail is relevant because daisy translated into Spanish is— you guessed it— margarita. 

Tears of Mayahuel Meet Tears of Chios

When we think of the island of Chios and of Greece itself, images of classic Greek mythology come to mind. Pre-Columbian Mexico was rich in its own myths. Just as the Greeks used mythology to explain the origins of wine or natural phenomena, so too did the indigenous peoples of Mexico. Mayahuel is the Aztec goddess of agave. According to the Aztecs, Mayahuel was irresistibly beautiful. Her beauty translated into the beauty of the agave plant, which produces an eye-catching flower at the peak of its maturity. And to tie things together nicely, the word agave comes from the Greek agauos, which translates to “noble, illustrious.” This is presumably a reference to the “stately” flower that grows from the plant. In Greek mythology, the name Agave is given to numerous characters, including an Amazonian warrior and a sea-nymph.

KLEOS Mastiha Spirit captures the terroir and landscape of the island of Chios. With that comes a distinct flavor profile reminiscent of basil, fennel, cucumber, mint, anise, and much more. Getting KLEOS to play along with tequila in a margarita is almost too easy.

A Greek Margarita Worthy of Mayahuel’s Beauty

We live in an era in which the margarita has been reinvented time and time again. Perhaps the most popular iteration, the one that has been widely adopted by bartenders and imbibers alike, is a Tommy’s Margarita. This might also look and sound like a skinny margarita, which it definitely is since agave nectar is used in place of triple sec. However, you don’t have to rely on agave nectar to keep your margaritas skinny. KLEOS Mastiha Spirit is also low in sugar. Two shots of KLEOS have only 4 grams of sugar and 110 calories. This makes it an acceptable substitute for anyone who wants to avoid excessive sugar in their cocktails. Check out this recipe for an AY-KLEOS MIO, which is an homage to Tommy’s Margarita:

AY-KLEOS MIO

Ingredients:

• 2 parts KLEOS Mastiha Spirit
• 1 part silver tequila
• 1⁄2 part fresh lime juice

Preparation:

• Shake all ingredients and strain over ice into a rocks glass.
• Sprinkle black pepper on top.
• Garnish with a lime wheel and a black pepper rim.

What I love about this margarita is that it just feels like the KLEOS and tequila were made for each other. The herbaceous and botanical notes of mastiha dance well with the peppery, vegetal, and mineral flavors of tequila. The longer you sip on this, the more it all makes sense. And if you want to push the envelope further, don’t stop there. Throw some cucumber, basil, or jalapeño into the mix. You probably already knew these went well with the tequila, but they also work like magic with KLEOS. As an added bonus, this particular margarita has a lower ABV.

Conclusion

We can see that although they come from very different parts of the world, agave and mastiha spirits taste great together. Even if it’s hard to parse through the myths to get at the origins of something like the margarita, we can still use our own senses to create a unique perspective on it all. What matters most is what tastes good in our glass and keeps us refreshed. If you’re lucky enough to be vacationing on a Greek island right now, you’d be smart to ask your bartender to whip you up a margarita with KLEOS Mastiha Spirit. Stay cool!