El Diablo cocktail
El Diablo cocktail is a blackcurrant and tequila-based cocktail, yet one which is sour and spicy at the same time. Creme de cassis adds the sweet flavour of blackcurrants to the earthy, peppery tequila, while ginger beer compliments the drink with its spiciness; and lastly, some sourness is brought by lime juice.
The first mention of El Diablo dates back to 1946 when it was published in Trader Vic's Bartender Guide under the name of Mexican Diablo as one of the first tequila drinks.
- Total Time:
- Type: Cocktail
- Units: 1.7
Equipment
- Collins glass
Ingredients
- 50 ml reposado tequila
- 15 ml creme de cassis
- 15 ml lime juice
- 80 ml ginger beer (to top)
- 1 lime slice (to garnish)
Instructions
- Add the tequila, creme de cassis and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass.
- Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime slice.
FAQ
What’s in an El Diablo cocktail?
The El Diablo is a tequila-based drink mixed with crème de cassis, lime juice, and ginger beer. It’s tangy, fruity, and spicy all at once – very different from simpler, more well-known tequila classics like the Margarita.
How strong is an El Diablo?
A typical serve (40ml tequila at 40% ABV + 15ml cassis + lime + ginger beer) comes to around 1.7 alcohol units, lighter than short, spirit-heavy options such as the Negroni.
How does it compare to other tequila cocktails?
It’s fruitier than the sharp and salty Margarita, with cassis adding a deep berry note. Compared to the Tequila Sunrise, the El Diablo is less sweet and more refreshing thanks to ginger beer. I find it perfect for a summer evening!
What’s the best garnish for an El Diablo?
A lime wedge or wheel is traditional, but some bartenders add fresh blackberries to echo the cassis. This gives it a colourful look, much like the garnish-driven style of a Tom Collins.
When was the El Diablo created?
It first appeared in the 1940s in Trader Vic’s cocktail books, one of the early tequila drinks to gain traction outside Mexico.