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Epicurious
Bon Appétit

Before Daylight

Before Daylight cocktail in a tall clear glass with a blackberry garnish on a pink ombr background.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco

The El Diablo served at Trader Vic’s was made with tequila, lime, ginger ale, and a splash of crème de cassis (that is, black currant liqueur). This extra-refreshing and juicy riff uses earthier mezcal and skips the cassis, opting instead for homemade blackberry syrup and sweet vermouth. Served on crushed ice in a tall glass, it’s the ideal summer afternoon sipper. Bruce Cost Ginger Ale is worth seeking out for this drink; it has a fresh and robust gingery flavor that most ginger ales lack. You’ll add the soda to the glass first; the cocktail mix is heavier and will sink down, so the drink mixes itself.

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