Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails

Rise Up Red Sea

By
Liquor.com
Liquor.com

Liquor.com has been serving drinks enthusiasts and industry professionals since 2009. Our writers are some of the most respected in the industry, and our recipes are contributed by bartenders who form a veritable "Who's Who" of the cocktail world.

Learn about Liquor.com's Editorial Process
Updated 11/16/20
Rise Up Red Sea cocktail
Image:

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

For football season, we had a bartender from each NFL team's hometown provide the perfect cocktail to represent their team.

“When you think about spirits in the desert of Arizona, tequila is the first that comes to mind,” says bartender Micah Olson of Phoenix’s Okra Cookhouse & Cocktails. “The watermelon and lime are there to quench one’s thirst in our hot and arid climate. I added some Campari to the mix as well, which is a bitter Italian liqueur. As a franchise, the Cardinals have had the longest active drought without a championship, which is something to be a little bitter about. Campari, watermelon and Peychaud’s bitters are also all red to reinforce the team’s colors. Rise up Red Sea is a reference to the Cardinal fans, aka the Red Sea.”

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces Fortaleza blanco tequila
  • 1/2 ounce Campari
  • 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 ounce watermelon syrup*
  • 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
  • Garnish: lemon wheel (fresh or dehydrated)

Steps

  1. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

  2. Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass.

  3. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

*Watermelon syrup: Add 1/2 cup watermelon juice and 1/2 cup granulated sugar into a container and place in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight to allow the sugar to dissolve completely. Stir to combine and strain out and discard the solids. Will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 5 days (adding a splash of vodka will allow it to keep longer).