Vampiros y Sangrita

Someone just asked me for a recipe for sangrita (originally named sangrita de la viuda–widow’s blood), a chaser that is served with tequila.  We make a big amount and add tequila to make a drink called vampiro.

VAMPIRO

For long years sangrita, usually a combination of tomato, lime and orange juice and red powdered chile with a few seasonings, was the most popular accompaniment to tequila — drunk as a chaser, a shot glass of each. Then someone had the happy idea of combining the liquor and the sangrita. The result is Vampiro, which is very popular in Acapulco and starting to be a favorite with U.S. restaurant-goers. It promises to become the Mexican Bloody Mary — and I would be delighted, because the sangrita flavors are too good to be only served as a chaser.

For each serving:

l/4                    cup (2 ounces) white tequila, preferably Sauza or Herradura

l/4                    cup tomato juice

2                      tablespoons orange juice

l                       tablespoon lime juice

1/2 – 1  teaspoon cayenne or powdered red chile

Dash of kosher salt

Black pepper

1                      cup crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker or blender and mix thoroughly. Squeeze 2 lime wedges into each glass and fill with tequila mixture.