El Chupacabra

Test Kitchen Notes

This recipe was a finalist in the Best Cocktail Contest. Although it didn't win, the race was very close, and we think this excellent drink deserves a spot in the cookbook. A Pimm’s Cup gone south of the border, the cocktail gets it moniker from a terrifying mythical creature whose name means “goat sucker.” janeymax calls for a couple of ingredients that may require a run to the local package store (Cynar, which is made from artichokes, blanco tequila and Peychaud bitters), but we think it’s well worth the field trip. The combo of cucumber and lemon juice is supremely refreshing, and the slight fizz from the soda water doesn't hurt. Although it’s hardly a sweet drink, you can barely taste the tequila, which makes it extra dangerous, just like its namesake. - A&M —The Editors