Tia Mia

Tia Mia sorta-kinda translates to “my aunt” in English—if you put an accent on tía—but it’s also an anagram for Mai Tai. Created by Ivy Mix, the co-owner of Leyenda in Brooklyn, New York, this take on the classic tiki cocktail is a staple on the bar’s cocktail menu. Instead of using only rum as the base, Mix combines funky, vanilla-rich Jamaican rum with subtly smoky mezcal. “I made this when I was working at Lani Kai,” says Mix. “It was my first foray into tiki. I wanted to put my favorite thing—mezcal—into my favorite drink, the Mai Tai. The result was the Tia Mia.” Layered and complex, the cocktail manages to maintain its refreshing quaffability. While it is the perfect for sipping solo in the sunshine, it also works well paired with spicier foods—especially dishes of the Mexican variety.