El Pepe

I am pretty crazy for all things agave-I use the sweetener in my morning tea, love it in my margaritas and count tequila and its spicier, smokier counterpart, mezcal among my favorite spirits. This cocktail is a bit like a spiced margarita, with Génépy, Chartreuse's Alpine cousin, stepping in for Cointreau.

El Pepe

1 oz mezcal

1/2 oz Génépy

1/2 oz lemon juice

1/4 oz 1:1 simple syrup

2 basil leaves

1 slice fresno pepper

4 dashes Angostura bitters

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice; shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice, and garnish with a basil leaf.

Notes: Génépy might be a bit tricky to find, though speciality liquor stores likely carry it. If you can't hunt down a bottle of the stuff, green Chartreuse will do in a pinch. As for mezcal, this recipe recommends Del Maguey's VIDA, and you couldn't pick a better bottle to start your collection-which will undoubtably grow as you start to explore Del Maguey's single village spirits. Cheers!

Image by Natalie Compton for PUNCH.