GuillotineCocktail recipe
Rating
Microbadges
Tags
Cocktail glass
Ingredients
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
The Guillotine cocktail masterfully marries the smoky allure of mezcal with the herbal complexity of Cynar and a crisp touch from dry vermouth, creating a drink that is both intriguingly layered and delightfully minimalist. This three-ingredient marvel is a testament to how thoughtful simplicity can engage the palate with robust smoky warmth, a hint of bitter depth, and a clean, refined finish. It's a cocktail that's all nuance and balance, offering an avant-garde twist on the classic spirit-forward recipes without veering into the realm of overwhelming sweetness or cacophonous complexity.
Method
How to make a Guillotine
-
- Combine mezcal, Cynar, and dry vermouth in a mixing glass with ice
-
- Stir the mixture until it is properly chilled and diluted
-
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass
Power tips
Elevate the Guillotine with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Use a large ice cube or spherical ice for stirring in the mixing glass. It chills the drink evenly without diluting it too quickly, preserving the balance of flavors between the smoky mezcal and the herbal notes of Cynar.
- Consider using a mezcal that's slightly on the fruity side to enhance the subtle sweetness and balance out the bitterness of the Cynar. Del Maguey Vida is excellent, but feel free to experiment with others, like Alipus San Juan.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Featured in
FAQ's
Who created the Guillotine cocktail and what inspired its creation?
The Guillotine cocktail was crafted by Yanni Kehagiaras at his San Francisco cocktail bar, Stoa. Kehagiaras is known for his minimalist approach to mixology, and this cocktail is a shining example of that philosophy. The Guillotine, with its sophisticated blend of mezcal, Cynar, and white vermouth, harks back to traditional cocktail-making methods while integrating a modern, inventive twist. Drawing inspiration from a dry mezcal Manhattan, Kehagiaras sought to create a cocktail with a complex flavor profile that is simultaneously smoky, earthy, and herbal without resorting to added sugars. In a cocktail landscape often dominated by recipes with numerous ingredients, the Guillotine stands as a testament to the idea that simplicity, when executed with high-quality components, can lead to extraordinary taste and character.
What makes Del Maguey Vida mezcal recommended for the Guillotine cocktail?
Del Maguey Vida mezcal is suggested for the Guillotine cocktail due to its distinctive flavor profile that enhances the drink's overall character. Del Maguey is renowned for its consistency and commitment to authenticity in mezcal production, utilizing traditional methods that highlight the unique qualities of the agave plant. Vida, in particular, offers notes of spicy fruitiness, hints of smoke, and a touch of earthy sweetness that harmonize beautifully with the herbal bitterness of Cynar and the dryness of white vermouth. This creates a balanced and multi-layered experience in the Guillotine, underscoring Kehagiaras’s focus on quality ingredients to elevate simple cocktail compositions into sophisticated beverages.
Why is the Guillotine cocktail stirred and not shaken?
The decision to stir the Guillotine cocktail instead of shaking is a deliberate choice that reflects the classic approach to preparing spirit-forward drinks. Shaking can provide aeration and dilutes the mixture more rapidly, which is suitable for cocktails that include citrus or other non-alcoholic ingredients that benefit from being emulsified. However, stirring is the preferred method for the Guillotine as it gently combines the alcohol components while allowing the individual flavors to remain distinct and well-integrated without over-dilution. This method ensures a cold, smooth, and crystal-clear beverage, highlighting the mezcal's smokiness, Cynar's earthy bitterness, and the vermouth's dry complexity as intended by the recipe.
What food pairings complement the Guillotine cocktail?
The Guillotine cocktail, with its smokiness, earthiness, and herbal undertones, pairs exceptionally well with a variety of savory dishes. Consider pairing it with roasted meats, such as lamb or pork, which provide a rich, robust backdrop that complements the cocktail's distinct flavors. Grilled vegetables with a charred finish can also echo the mezcal's smokiness while contrasting with the bitter complexity of Cynar. Additionally, cheese boards featuring aged cheeses with nutty, sharp profiles, such as Gouda or Pecorino, can create a delightful interplay of flavors that elevate both the drink and the food. These pairings underscore the cocktail's versatile nature, enhancing the dining experience and bringing out its nuanced taste.
How does the alcohol content of the Guillotine compare to other classic cocktails?
The Guillotine boasts an alcohol content of 28%, making it a fairly robust option among cocktails. When compared to other classic cocktails, its alcohol content is slightly higher than cocktails like the Old Fashioned, which usually averages around 25%, and on par with drinks like the Martini, which can range from 30-40% depending on the ratio of gin to vermouth. The relatively high alcohol content contributes to the Guillotine's bold and assertive flavor profile, which is tempered by the smoothness achieved through stirring rather than shaking, creating a balanced experience that appeals to aficionados of spirit-forward cocktails.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Ultima Palabra
The Ultima Palabra cocktail is a captivating blend of flavors designed to entice the most discerning palates. This sophisticated drink...
Smoked Chamomile Paloma
A sophisticated take on the classic Paloma, the Smoked Chamomile Paloma brings together Hornitos Plata's bright agave character with delicate...
Fumata Bianca
Created by Timothy Miner in New York City, the Fumata Bianca is an elegant and sophisticated cocktail that masterfully balances...
Snake Eyes
The Snake Eyes cocktail, created by Robby Dow and Ally Marrone from Grand Army Bar in Brooklyn, offers a refreshing...
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Comments
No comments yet…
You need to be a user with a verified email to comment on cocktails. Login / register