El Chipi-NO: A Tequila & Aperol Mocktail Mashup

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What I found so interesting about the El Chipilo cocktail is that it’s a mix of Italian and Mexican flavours inspired by a small Italian-settled town of the same name in Puebla, Mexico. You’ve got the earthy, slightly smoky notes you’d expect from tequila paired with the herbal bitterness of an Italian aperitif.

The El Chipilo is usually made with reposado tequila and Campari, though some versions use Aperol for a slightly lighter, less bitter flavour. The result is a bright, citrusy, herbal and incredibly sophisticated drink. The mocktail dupe does a pretty good job of recreating the same balance without the alcohol.

For this alcohol-free version, I’m using Free Spirits Aperitivo Milano, which is similar to a Campari. I also used Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila which is the closest to a reposado tequila. I ALSO used 1/2 oz of Almave Blanco to round out the sweeter agave profile You don’t have to do this - you could just stick to one or the other if you only have one bottle. Both Almave and Free Spirits work well solo in this recipe. Note that I tried this with Ritual tequila alternative but it just burned through the citrus and bitters and did not work well in this recipe. The Free Spirits is peppery and the Almave is smooth and it’s a perfect combo.

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I’ve tweaked the original recipe to add a little more zero-proof spirits and a little less citrus. The original recipe says to use any hot sauce you want, so I first used jalapeno brine and then tried it with Cholulu hot sauce, which was actually much better and much more unique.

And as always - the bitters are the alcohol-free Aromatic Bitters from All The Bitter.

The El ChipiNO is herbal, smoky, refreshing, and has just enough bite to make it feel like a proper cocktail so let’s get mixing!

Ingredients

1/2 oz lime juice
3/4 oz Free Spirits Aperitivo Milano
2 oz Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila
1/2 oz Almave Blanco
5 dashes All The Bitters Aromatic Bitters
2-3 dashes hot sauce

Preparation

  1. Add all ingredients to a chilled cocktail shaker with large ice and shake until chilled.

  2. Strain into a chilled margarita glass and add a lime for garnish.

Cheers!