Tess Rose shares basic tips for turning classing mezcal pairings into something special. The perfect mezcal tasting plate for vanquishing the winter blues.
It’s one of the coldest times of year for those of us in the northern hemisphere, which means all the more reason to cozy up with a DIY mezcal tasting plate to take the chill off. With the temperatures freezing in my home in the Hudson Valley of New York, I designed a tasting you could likely put together with what you already have on hand–any excuse not to venture out of my cozy nest. As always, I suggest you get creative to make your pantry and home bar staples work for you, and use my recommendations as inspiration guidelines rather than hard and fast rules.
Ideally, you already have a selection of agave spirits that feature different agave varieties, regions, and production methods. But even if you have just one bottle, this plate is a simple accompaniment to enhance the flavors and charm of almost any mezcal. For this particular melange of flavors, I picked three favorites from my home bar: Dos Pasiones Espadin, La Luna Cupreata, and Origen Raiz Cenizo; all solid expressions that represent the traditions of their terroir. You can definitely use whatever you have already, but if you are looking to stock up, these bottles are always great additions to the home bar.
How to make a simple yet perfect mezcal tasting plate
Staying true to my tested agave pairing principles, I started with three themes which also double as household staples in my home: cheese, chocolate, and fruit. If I were home alone, I would likely just place all of these items on a board, snuggle up with my copitas, and call it a night. But with a few simple preparations, this can turn into a last-minute festive offering for friends and family–one that comes off way more impressive than the effort it requires.
Taking chocolate and cheese to the next level with a few simple tricks
We’ll start with the chocolate. When things are really dire and I have no fancy fair trade bars or confections, I usually have either unsweetened baking chocolate or chocolate chips–and either is fine. Melt the chocolate into a stirrable consistency in the microwave, then add a pinch of salt and some nut butter and stir to combine. Use about a 3:1 ratio of chocolate to nut butter. I like almond butter but peanut or sunflower butter works too. Just like that, you have a rich chocolate ganache that is perfect for dipping pretzels. This pairing is chocolatey, sweet, nutty, crunchy, and salty all in one. It’s actually dangerous how easy it is to whip this up!
Next comes the cheese. Again, there is nothing wrong with straight cheese on a board, eaten off a knife alongside a copita of delicious mezcal. Take it a step further by simply melting it onto some bread in the toaster. Cheese toast is somehow more luxurious, and provides that gooey texture that is so satisfying. It really doesn’t matter what kind of cheese, though blue cheese or washed rind cheeses run the risk of overpowering some spirits. Anything from cream cheese to parmesan works melted on toasted bread. Add a sprinkling of za’atar or a smear of fruit preserves to take it in a savory or sweet direction. If you don’t have cheese, it works to substitute yogurt, though I don’t recommend heating it up. Just toast the bread, spread on yoghurt, and complement it with olive oil and flaky sea salt.
Lastly, even in cold weather, I like to have something fresh to add to a mezcal tasting plate. Depending on your region, fresh fruit can be hard to find. I store the region’s best apples for keeping, which last me until around February. If I run out of apples, citrus is my go-to winter fruit. In an ideal world, there could be a plate of mixed citrus with sumo oranges, pomelo, and grapefruit, but it works well with just a couple of cutie mandarins. For an exciting pairing with agave, mix up a seasoned salt dip for your citrus or other fruit. A favorite mix of mine for winter is salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, cinnamon, and mace.
With a few thoughtful tweaks, pantry ingredients and your home bar selection can be turned into something unique and delicious. The simple twists here and there create diverse textures and a range of flavors in each bite. Whether you are making this pairing plate for yourself, to cheer them up a friend, or to host an easy get-together, you’ll win every time when you stick to tried and true agave pairings.
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