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Cocktail History
The Under The Volcano is a modern cocktail that was created in 2011 by Kyle Davidson in Chicago, Illinois. Believed to have been named for the 1947 novel by Malcolm Lowry, the drink starts with a few ingredients from the Last Word template, including lime and Chartreuse, but it swaps out the classic’s gin base for tequila and reaches for Cynar in lieu of maraschino before sweetening it all with a bit of agave syrup.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Tequila Añejo: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with blue agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged from one to three years in oak barrels. We used Camarena Añejo Tequilabecause it has a smooth taste with notes of citrus, apple, oak, baking spices, and caramel. For a low-proof version of this drink, try Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Cynar: This is a liqueur made in Italy with artichokes, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol.
Yellow Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a low-proof version of this drink, try winter herb syrup in place of the Yellow Chartreuse.
Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener that is made from the fluid inside agave plants. We made ours at home using Alex’s recipe.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Tasting Notes
The Under The Volcano has prominent herbal aromas and an initial taste that features citrus right away and evolves into an indescribable combination of sweet agave, slightly bitter herbs, and tart citrus for balance. The aftertaste then lingers after the swallow with Cynar’s unique earthy, bitter notes.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both found this to be, in a word, “fascinating.” Neither of us thought the Under The Volcano was particularly crushable, but we did agree that it was super contemplative, herbal, bitter, and a welcome addition to our agave repertoire for nights when we want intrigue in our drinks.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“As far as tequila cocktails go, this is definitely one of the most interesting I’ve ever had. The combination of Cynar and Chartreuse make for a wondrous herbal quality that pervades the entire drink’s experience, not for the worse, but definitely for the weird. The recipe has a darkness about it that makes for a decidedly un-Margarita experience, which is what you often get in a tequila cocktail, but if you’re looking for a drink that makes you think, the Under The Volcano is great.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“Add this to the list of cocktails that gave me no clue what to expect at its tasting. Aside from the telltale agave flavor of tequila and its common counterpart lime, I wasn’t sure what would happen when herbal Chartreuse and bitter Cynar was added to the mix. It was… odd. That’s the only way I can describe it. The Chartreuse gets lost a bit, in my opinion, but the Cynar is definitely there, especially in the aftertaste. I don’t like the artichoke liqueur myself, but if ever there was a palatable introduction to that ingredients, this would be it.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
![Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41J8UixQqLL._SL75_.jpg)
Add tequila, lime juice, Cynar, Yellow Chartreuse, agave syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Ingredients
Directions
Add tequila, lime juice, Cynar, Yellow Chartreuse, agave syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila and winter herb syrup in place of the Yellow Chartreuse to try a low-proof version of this drink.
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More Tequila Cocktails
If you like this tequila-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Tequila Honeysuckle: A tequila cocktail made with honey syrup, lime juice, and a lime slice
Something Tequila: A tequila cocktail made with pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, passion fruit syrup, a lime slice, a mint sprig, and edible flowers
Smoky Pineapple Margarita: A tequila and mezcal cocktail made with triple sec, lime juice, pineapple syrup, Tajín, a lime wedge, and a lime slice
Matador (Variation): A tequila cocktail made with Green Chartreuse, pineapple juice, lime juice, agave syrup, pineapple slice, and a lime wheel
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