Agave Blue

This fruity riff on a Margarita from Andrew Shaner of New York City’s Goodnight Sonny forgoes tequila in favor of smoky mezcal and gets a bright kick from blueberry compote. There’s something for everyone: sweet blueberries, earthy mezcal, tart lemon juice, herbaceous cilantro, spicy serrano honey, and even a rim of salty pink peppercorn and sea salt. It’s a chameleon cocktail that pairs with everything from raw shellfish to chocolatey desserts. If you have jarred blueberry preserves lying around in the cupboard, feel free to use them in place of a homemade blueberry compote—but we promise that making it from scratch with fresh blueberries is well worth the effort.