A relatively unknown cocktail within the United States, La Batanga combines two rather uncommon but simple ingredients: Coca-Cola and tequila. La Batanga was created by a man named Don Javier Delgado Corona out of his Tequila, Mexico restaurant La Capilla. It’s basically a Mexican version of a Cubra Libre – which if you’re not familiar is a combination of Coca-Cola and rum.
I kicked this simple, classic Mexican cocktail up a notch with the addition of Fernet, a spirit within the subcategory of Amari that has a robust flavor profile highlighted by licorice, cardamom, chamomile, mint, and bitter orange. This popular Italian spirit is typically consumed on its own as a post-meal cordial, but it’s quietly beloved by sophisticated bartenders around the world. I found that the addition of Fernet to La Batanga perfectly paired with the Coca-Cola flavors.
It’s also very important that you use Mexican Coca-Cola as opposed to “regular” Coca-Cola for the best flavor. As pictured below, Mexican cola is typically found in glass bottles as opposed to cans. This isn’t the reason for the difference in taste, however. Take a quick peek at the ingredients, and you’ll notice that Mexican Coca-Cola is made with pure cane sugar while the “regular” American Coca-Cola is made with high fructose corn syrup. Because of this, Mexican Coca-Cola is often described as having a sharper, more authentic flavor. If you’re interested in learning more about the complicated reason for the two version of Coke, here’s a Smithsonian Magazine article about just that.
La Batanga Cocktail
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servings5
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minutesA refreshing, simple Mexican cocktail that combines Coca-Cola and tequila. This version is kicked up with the addition of Fernet.
Ingredients
2 ounces tequila blanco
1/2 ounce Fernet
1/2 ounce lime juice
6 ounces Mexican Coca-Cola
pinch of salt
Directions
- To a cocktail glass, add 1/2 ounce of lime juice. Add a pinch of salt and dissolve into the lime juice.
- Add 1/2 ounce of Fernet and 2 ounces of Tequila blanco. Stir all of the ingredients together.
- Top with 6 ounces of Mexican Coca-Cola and stir gently. Serve with a a lime wedge.