El Especialista
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 16.2% ABV ∙
El Especialista is a shaken rum sour of white rum, fino sherry, lime juice and powdered sugar, with Angostura bitters and a pinch of salt.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: White rum 60 mlFino sherry 20 mlLime juice 30 mlPowdered sugar 3 bspAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashesSalt 1 pinch
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
Tips
- Powdered sugar needs the whole shake to dissolve, so shake hard and don't cut it short, or the drink stays gritty.
- The pinch of salt goes into the shaker, not on a rim; dissolved, it softens the lime and bitters instead of biting.
History
El Especialista was created by Italian bartender Livio Morena of Caffè Propaganda in Rome as his entry for the Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition, a global contest that challenges bartenders to design an original rum cocktail with the potential to become a modern classic. Morena's drink won for Italy at the 2016 edition's Southern Europe final, held in Lisbon, earning him a place at that year's international final in San Francisco. He described the drink as a personal tribute to family and to the people who shaped his life and career, built around a simple, rum-based recipe reflecting the style he and his colleagues at Caffè Propaganda had been developing.
FAQ
What is in an El Especialista?
White rum, fino sherry, fresh lime juice, powdered sugar, and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters, shaken with a pinch of salt. The sherry is what sets this rum sour apart from a standard Daiquiri-style drink.
Is an El Especialista shaken or stirred?
Shaken, and hard. Powdered sugar needs the whole shake to dissolve and the lime needs the chill and air; stirring would leave the drink gritty and flat.
What glass is an El Especialista served in?
A cocktail glass, served up after a hard shake and fine strain.
Is the El Especialista a strong drink?
Moderately: about 16.2% ABV. The lime, sugar and lower-proof sherry stretch the rum, so it is lighter than a spirit-forward drink.
