Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/692589
The Summer of MEZCAL MIXOLOGY ACADEMY COOKING DEMO HAPPY HOUR Tuesday - Friday 4pm - 6pm Limited Space Available. Call for reservations: 312.329.9555 Watch and learn as Chef Sandoval teaches his Mexican inspired recipes while you relax, sip on cocktails and enjoy! LATE NIGHT: w w w. M E R C A D I T O R E S TA U R A N T S . c o m 312 . 3 2 9 . 9 5 5 5 10 8 W. K i n z i e | C h i c a g o August 2 5 courses 5 beverage pairings Tuesday - Thursday 10pm - close Friday & Saturday 11pm - close *does not apply on holidays June 25 | All About Sours July 30 | Umbrella Drinks August 27 | Agave Maria Classes start at $45/guest and include cocktails and appetizers from Mercadito. Classes start at $60/guest Summer is heating up and so is the latest cocktail trend. Mezcal, the smoky grandfather of tequila is a spirit draped in mystery and intrigue. Most have heard of it, but few know what it actually is. Unlike tequila (which is made from only one type of agave), Mezcal is crafted from over 100 different types, which gives it a breadth of complexity and unique flavor profiles unlike anything else. "Mezcal is the Kobe Beef of spirits," says La Mez Beverage Director Dylan Stewart. "Some agave variates take up to 20 years to mature and require intense love and care in order to grow properly. Many distilleries are creating mezcal in the same fashion as their ancestors did many generations before. It is a spirit steeped in tradition with an incredible history." La Mez, the newly re-designed cocktail lounge nestled below Mercadito in the heart of River North, features a variety of cocktails that explore this trending spirit. The menu, created by Stewart, showcases the adventurous versatility of mezcal through his cocktails. While mezcal is traditionally sipped, he takes a more approachable way to introduce the public to this smoky spirit. "My goal was to find a way to acquaint people with mezcal by making it approachable," says Stewart. "The cocktail menu (at La Mez) showcases mezcal in a way that is familiar yet compelling. I advise my guests to start with a mezcal cocktail and then try sipping the spirit alone to experience its vast complexities." Not a fan of mezcal? No need to worry, the La Mez cocktail list includes drinks such as the appropriately named "Vodka Drink", "Whiskey Drink" and "Tequila Drink", to appeal to every palette. Guests can also enjoy the full Mercadito food menu and take advantage of their Happy Hour specials. For more cocktail options, head upstairs to the Mercadito www.mercaditorestaurants.com bar and give La Vida Rosa a try. The newest cocktail addition features Don Julio, pomegranate, lillet rouge and bubbles, perfect for those hot summer days! La Mez hosts a monthly Mixology Academy where Stewart teaches guests the ins and outs of mezcal (among other spirits) and how to re-create his specialty cocktails at home. You can also learn to make Chef Patricio Sandoval's famed Mexican dishes at Mercadito's monthly cooking demos. For more information, visit: DON'T MISS Summer Events at Mercadito & La Mez advertisement