Mezcal Hot Chocolate

Riding fat bikes in the winter almost always involves some type of mid-ride beverage to sooth the soul. Up north in the colder climates, beer stays nice and cold when stowed away in a frame bag or backpack. This is an easy go to. A flask of whisky fits perfectly in a pocket, and the warm bite of a Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year  is alluring when the cold is nipping at you. This winter I have discovered a new favorite winter fat biking drink: Mezcal Hot Chocolate. 

This particular concoction is packed with a rich medley of flavors that is perfect for cold fat bike rides in the north country. It is spicy, sweet, slightly smoky, and velvety. Words can only do so much to describe how amazing this drink is, so I'm going to share a few photos, and a recipe for how to make your own. 

The list of ingredients is as follows (makes three espresso size servings): 

3 ounces of quality semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup of whole milk 

1 tablespoon of ground ceylon cinnamon

1 tablespoon of pure cane sugar

1/4 teaspoon of almond extract

1/4 teaspoon of ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon of ground chile de arbol

2 ounces of Fidencio Clásico Mezcal Tequila

Instructions: 

Pour the whole milk and cinnamon in a small sauce pan over very low heat. You might need to put your burner on the lowest setting possible. Slowly warm up the milk and cinnamon until it becomes aromatic (8-10 minutes). Once there is a cinnamon smell emanating from the milk, drop in the chocolate chips and stir continuously. Once the chips are near to being fully melted, mix in the sugar, almond extract, cumin and chile de arbol. At this point pay close attention to the thickness and texture. If you want it lighter, keep adding around 1 tablespoon of milk until you arrive at the consistency you like. It is important to keep the heat super low. You do not want the mixture to boil. Once you start seeing any bubbles, turn the heat down or lift the sauce pan off the burner. Once you have the consistency you like, remove from the heat and pour in the mezcal. Immediately transfer to an insulated thermos and get on your way to the trail. Don't forget to to pack two small espresso cups for the ride. The 4 ounce GSI enamelware cups are perfect. 

Find an ideal spot in your ride to stop for a warm beverage, get out your espresso cups, pour yourself and a riding partner a shot of velvety goodness, and enjoy.