Pura Vida
A smoky and bitter mezcal cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 30.1% ABV ∙
The Pura Vida is a stirred, spirit-forward mezcal cocktail with an amaro such as Averna, a little coffee liqueur and an optional dash of orange bitters.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Mezcal 40 mlAmaro 15 mlCrème de Café liqueur 10 mlOrange bitters 1 dash (opt.)
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Keep the crème de café to its 10 ml; it's there as an accent, and any more makes it the first sweetness you taste.
History
The Pura Vida was created in 2016 by bartender Riccardo Aletta at Holy Birds, a restaurant and cocktail bar in London. The name is Spanish for "pure life." The drink pairs mezcal with Italian amaro and coffee liqueur, building on the smoky-agave-and-bitter-herbal combinations that became popular in mezcal cocktails during the 2010s craft cocktail revival.
FAQ
What is in a Pura Vida cocktail?
40 ml mezcal, 15 ml amaro such as Averna, and 10 ml crème de café liqueur, with an optional dash of orange bitters. There is no juice or syrup, so it is strong, at about 30.1% ABV, and the mezcal's smoke comes through.
