The Red Sun Recipe

Combine

Pour 12 oz of Volcan XA tequila into a clean, sealable jar. Add 1 tablespoon solid unsalted coconut oil to the jar.

Infuse

Seal the jar and gently shake to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 12–24 hours, shaking gently every few hours to disperse the fat.

Freeze and separate

Place the sealed jar in the freezer for 4–6 hours or until the coconut fat solidifies on top.

Decant and filter

Open the jar and carefully decant the liquid tequila into another container, leaving the solid coconut fat behind. Filter the tequila through a fine mesh and then through a coffee filter or fine cheesecloth to remove any remaining fat particles. Store the fat-washed tequila in a sealed bottle in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Use 2 oz per cocktail.

Make syrup

Combine 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Simmer 3–5 minutes to infuse ginger flavor, then remove from heat.

Strain and cool

Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then strain through a fine mesh to remove ginger solids. Transfer syrup to a clean bottle or jar and refrigerate. Keeps 2 weeks. Use 1/2 oz per cocktail.

Prepare glass

If desired, chill a coupe or rocks glass in the freezer for a few minutes. Alternatively, fill the serving glass with fresh ice if serving on the rocks.

Build the cocktail

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz coconut fat-washed Volcan XA tequila, 1 oz mango puree, 3/4 oz fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz ginger syrup, and 1/4 oz simple syrup only if additional sweetness is needed. Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup).

Shake

Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is chilled and slightly frosted. This both chills and slightly aerates the mango puree for a silky texture.

Double strain and serve

Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or a rocks glass over fresh ice (if preferred) using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer to remove mango fibers and ice shards.

Garnish

Garnish with a thin mango slice or a lime wheel. For extra aromatics, add 1 dash Angostura bitters on top, or express a lime peel over the drink and discard.

Taste and adjust

Taste and adjust balance: add up to 1/4 oz more ginger syrup if you want more sweetness/ginger, or an extra 1/4 oz lime juice if it needs more brightness.