Although the warm, glorious days of summer came and went, the arrival of fall has driven us mad. The cool, crisp morning breeze transforms emerald green leaves into glowing orange, rosy red, and maple brown. The trees become vibrant with jewel hues that glitter from the warm rays of the sun and the air is as sweet as the ripe, juicy apples that thump on the ground. However, autumn is the same season where we must wrap ourselves in layers of wool, a far cry from the days when we wore nothing but sunscreen, shorts, and a t-shirt. Even though leather boots and sweater coats are in season, no runway couture can compare to weekend getaways or dancing under the stars. The current season does leave us yearning for summer again, but at the same time, we can’t help but fall for its enchanting beauty. Autumn does deliver us Fashion Week, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, but it’s also a painful reminder that blizzards aren’t far behind. Instead of going crazy over fall, we’re going to enjoy our love/hate relationship with the season while we still can with an equally alluring drink.
Unlike most cocktails, which are made for specific seasons, Roja Loca is meant to satisfy our tastes for any time of the year. While it’s both light and refreshing for BBQs or weekend picnics, Roja Loca is flavorful enough to make us forget the sudden chilly days of autumn, all thanks to epazote syrup, containing the taste of spicy lemons and mint. It’s rich, raspberry color from red wine, Ruby Port, and freshly picked strawberries combined inspires us to admire once unnoticed trees dazzling with leaves dipped in gold and chocolate. A touch of grapefruit and jalapeno makes the Roja Loca, much like fall, both sweet and bitter, a perfect cocktail that truly exemplifies how the new season is making us feel. The Roja Loca can be found at the Mercadito Restaurants in New York City, Chicago, and Miami, but you can also prepare it at home and enjoy living la vida loca.
Roja Loca Recipe
Ingredients
3 oz. Red wine
½ oz. Ruby Port
2 oz. Grapefruit juice
1 oz. Epazote syrup
¼ Jalapeno (seeded and devain)
1 Strawberry
Preparation
Combine all ingredients and shake over ice. Strain drink into a glass and garnish with a strawberry.
