Love Drinks Grows Food & Mezcal Matching Movement
With the mezcal movement showing no signs of slowing down this summer, Love Drinks’ two award-winning brands Zignum and El Recuerdo have teamed up with food writer Jonathan Hatchman to showcase the special spirit’s fantastic food matching merits.
A growing trend in the last few years across the UK, Mezcal is defined as any agave-based liquor and can be made from over 30 varieties of agave such as Espadín, Tobalá, Tobaziche, Tepeztate, Arroqueño and Blue Agave, which is famously used to make tequila.
Often savoured neat in bars in Mexico or utilised in a wide range of cocktails and serves, the famous spirit offers incredible versatility, depth and flavour, plus is incredible when paired to different foods across the sweet and savoury spectrum.
To drive trial this summer, Love Drinks asked Jonathan Hatchman to create four Mexican-inspired dishes to try alongside four different mezcals. They include:
- Steak tacos – paired with El Recuerdo Joven
- Tuna tostadas – paired with Zignum Joven
- Pork carnitas with pineapple salsa – paired with Zignum Resposado
- Mexican Pots de Crème – paired with Zignum Anejo
El Recuerdo – made famous by its association with American mixed martial artist and UFC champion Jorge Masvidal – and the ultra-premium, multi-award winning ZIGNUM® Mezcals are available to the On-trade from Love Drinks – www.lovedrinks.com
El Recuerdo Mezcal
El Recuerdo Mezcal is the essence of a vibrant and colourful Oaxaca; it’s attitude, character and pride in a bottle. Recuerdo is Spanish for remembrance, keepsake, reminiscence, memento, souvenir.
El Recuerdo Mezcal is made from choice Agave Espadín plants and is crafted with traditional techniques.
It has a smoky flavor, a characteristic of the traditional Mezcals of the region, and an attribute connoisseurs seek. It is cooked over river rocks with certified pine and oak woods to achieve an environmentally friendly product.
The river rocks are collected from the higher elevations of Oaxaca’s central valley rivers. Rocks and woods utilised at their distillery in Oaxaca, the Capital of Mezcal, are certified by the SEMARNAT (Mexican ministry of environmental protection), to ensure that care is taken of the planet’s biodiversity through a responsible and sustainable management of the local forests.
Mezcal is a protected designation of origin. El Recuerdo Mezcal launched in collaboration with UFC “BMF” Champion, Jorge Masvidal.
El Recuerdo Joven
Joven (Spanish for young) without agave worm, for those looking for more traditional smoky notes, without extra complexity. A nose offering smooth herbal hints, it is beautifully balanced with sweet and slightly bitter flavours, herbal notes and fine smoke sparkles.
100% Agave Espadín
40% Alc./Vol.
700ml bottle
ZIGNUM® Mezcal
Rooted in Oaxaca, ZIGNUM® is one of the most awarded mezcals in the world and noted for being exceptionally smooth and easy to drink. ZIGNUM distillery’s unique Método Verde® Sustainability Programs are aimed at having the lowest possible environmental impact. ZIGNUM distillery is animal cruelty-free; operates its own wastewater treatment facility; uses solar energy for heating; is certified “Clean Industry” by Mexico’s Ministry for Environmental Protection, and Kosher, among other quality designations.
ZIGNUM® Joven Mezcal
Spending no time aging in oak, this young high class mezcal has a smooth, clean and refined agave backbone with floral and citrus notes and a silky, smooth finish.
100% Agave Espadín
40% Alc./Vol.
700ml bottle
ZIGNUM® Reposado Mezcal
ZIGNUM® Reposado is aged in American white oak barrels for a minimum of 8 months. Balanced and refined, it hits the sweet spot between delicate & intense and sweet & roasted, due the aging. Flavours of honey, vanilla and caramel balanced by bright hints of orange. Serve neat or add to a spirit-forward cocktail.
100% Agave Espadín
40% Alc./Vol.
700ml bottle
ZIGNUM® Añejo Mezcal
Aged in a combination of French and American oak for a minimum of 18 months, beyond the minimum time required by the regulations of the Denomination of Origin. A truly extraordinary mezcal, ZIGNUM® Añejo Mezcal showcases the expertise of the Maestro Mezcalero, who blends perfectly aged liquid from both French and American oak casks. Rich coffee, chocolate and maple syrup and a smooth, slightly sweet finish. Savoured neat, it makes any occasion a special one.
100% Agave Espadín
40% Alc./Vol.
700ml bottle
About Love Drinks
Love Drinks is an independent import, distribution and marketing company for premium quality spirits, liqueurs and craft beers. Their portfolio represents quality, craft-distilled and family-owned brands that have a rich provenance, heritage and history.
Founded by Kirsty Loveday BEM in 2007, Love Drinks represent Abelha Organic Cachaça, The Bitter Truth Cocktail Range of Bitters and Liqueurs, Conker Spirits, Einstök Icelandic Craft Beers, Goslings Bermuda Rums, Hernö Gin, Pedrino Spritz, White Heron Drinks and the El Recuerdo and ZIGNUM® Mezcal Brands.
Love Drinks holds the silver accreditation for Investors in People and recently launched Love Well – a pioneering initiative to help the health and wellbeing of people working in the hospitality industry. The company was named Drinks Business Drinks Distributor of the Year in 2019.
For more information visit www.lovedrinks.com or follow on Facebook – @lovedrinksltd – Instagram – @love_drinks_ltd or – Twitter – @Love_Drinks. To speak to someone, call 0207 501 9630.