You’re Drinking What?

Wanna look classy drinking tequila? This drink is for you!  Le Rouge et le Noir, or The Red and the Black. Not sure if the the drink does come from the psychological novel but wow does this drink have twists and turns. This will be a conversation starter at any party as the guests have the first sip, and are surprised, and by the last sip, tipsy and ready to mingle. 

The Ingredients, recipe from Food and Wine:

Makes 10 drinks

•  2 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup coarsely cracked black pepper, plus 1 tablespoon finely ground black pepper
• 2 quarts strawberries, hulled and halved
• 2 1/2 cups blanco tequila (20 ounces)
• 1 1/4 cups fresh lime juice (10 ounces)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 lemon wedge
• Ice 

      

1.   In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of the sugar with the warm water and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the 1/2 cup of coarsely cracked black pepper and let cool. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 3 hours. Pour the black pepper syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a large measuring cup.
    Modification: we used about 1/2 the amount of black pepper.
2. In a large pitcher, muddle the halved strawberries. Add 2 1/4 cups of the black pepper syrup, the tequila and fresh lime juice (reserve the remaining black pepper syrup for another cocktail). Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
   Dont have a muddler? Put your strawberries in a pitcher and smoosh them with the bottom of a wine glass. It works, we swear.  
3. On a small plate, mix the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar with the finely ground black pepper and the salt. Moisten half of the outer rims of 10 rocks glasses with the lemon wedge and coat lightly with the pepper-and-salt mixture. Fill the rocks glasses with ice. Stir the drink well, then pour or strain into the prepared rocks glasses and serve at once. 
   Modification: Finely ground pepper should be used, it coats the rim and melds with the sugar better. 

       

The Reviews:

“The mix of tart, sweet and spicy was great! Lovely drink.” - Sara 

” I am not particularly a fan of tequila, but I thought this drink of the week was pretty good. The pepper on the rim was distracting after the first couple of sips; I think it would’ve been better with just sugar. Tequila infused strawberries at the bottom of the cup==prize in the cereal box.” -Stephanie

“Not much to look at… but very tasty! The pepper aftertaste is really nice - a good contrast with the sweet and strawberries.” - Melissa

“The first day, the drink was decent, not great but still, you cant go wrong with tequila. On the following Monday, this drink was phenomenal. It is key to marinate the flavors more than a couple hours to get a subtle spicy aftertaste with the sweet strawberry tones.” - Nicole   

 ~Jenny

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