The Story Behind The Abandoned Highway
While mezcal may not be the first spirit you think of around the holidays, its distinctive smoky notes are here to prove you wrong. The spirit shines in the Abandoned Highway, created by Simone Mele of Kansas City’s Swordfish Tom’s, where it is accompanied by two types of amaro and an orange, cinnamon, and clove tonic syrup. It all comes together with hot apple cider in a harmonious combination of dark fruit flavors, fall baking spices, and mulled apples all seamlessly connected on a string of smoke.
The Orange Cinnamon Clove Tonic Syrup included is a take on Mele's syrup, as his recipe is top secret.
This recipe is part of our 2023 Holiday Cocktail Countdown. Click here to see all of the festive recipes as they publish throughout December.
*Orange Cinnamon Clove Tonic Syrup Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 4 ounces orange juice
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cinchona bark powder
- 1 tablespoon clove powder
- Citric acid
- Sugar
*Orange Cinnamon Clove Tonic Syrup Directions
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, orange juice, cinnamon, cinchona bark, and clove powder and heat over medium-low.
- Heat until simmering, reduce heat, and cover for 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat and strain into a bowl through a fine mesh strainer lined with a cheesecloth.
- Allow to cool for 30 minutes.
- Carefully pour the liquid into a storage container, straining away any sediment that has settled at the bottom of the mixture.
- For each cup of tonic water, add ¾ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon citric acid.
- Seal and store in the refrigerator.
Related Reads & Recipes
Learn About Mezcal
More Mezcal Recipes To Explore
The El Murcielago Cocktail Recipe:
From Portland beverage professional Beau Raymond comes this boozy sour with a velvety texture, featuring mezcal, tequila, and more. Learn how to make it with this recipe.
The Mezcal Margarita Recipe:
Mezcal imparts this cocktail with a smokiness that tempers the citrusy and tart elements in a traditional Marg. Read on for the recipe!
The Diamond Paloma Recipe:
This riff on the classic Paloma cocktail features mezcal and was inspired by a Miami Beach hotel. Learn how to make it with this easy recipe.
Smoky Cranberry Mezcal Madras:
Casamigos Mezcal, sweet orange liqueur and fresh pressed lime juice get a Thanksgiving-influenced, cranberry sauce-inspired tone.
The Lawn Flamingo Recipe:
Checking all the flavor boxes, Brooklyn beverage director Sarah Boisjoli mixes sweet, tart, and savory with pineapple and lime juices, blackstrap rum, mezcal, Campari, and simple syrup. Learn how to make her recipe here.
The Ponche de Mezcal:
The Ponche de Mezcal serves as a Mexican-inspired Hot Toddy, combining the smoky spirit with homemade ponche. Check it out here!
