Celebrate tequila's underappreciated cousin

By Dave Baldwin

Published on 2/21/2013 at 11:00 PM

Having predicted mezcal to be the 'hot' spirits trend of 2013, Saloon's Beverage Director Manny Gonzales is trying to ensure he wins big at Vegas's Hot Culinary Trends Betting Book by throwing this one-night-only ode to tequila's smokier sibling that pairs Mexican bites like spicy shrimp tostadas and carnitas & chorizo rellenos with an exotic selection of mez'tails that includes the muddled avocado Oaxacan Sour and one insane number dubbed Pascal's Fire, which's mixed with a winter squash-infused Spanish brandy, cocoa, and jalapeno tequila