Watermelon Sugar

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne
• 2 inch-wide cubes watermelon
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
• ½ ounce joven mezcal (see note)
• 1 ½ ounce blanco tequila

One drink

Preparation

1. On a small plate, mix salt, sugar and cayenne with a fork. Lightly wet rim of a medium cocktail glass with water or lime juice, and dip glass on plate, coating rim, then tap to shake off excess.
2. In a cocktail shaker, crush watermelon with a muddler or long-handled spoon. Half fill the shaker with ice and vigorously shake the watermelon, syrup, lime juice, mezcal and tequila. Strain into glass and serve.

• Joven mezcals are young spirits with no aging. They will usually be labeled as such and will be clear or have a very light color.