For some, Latin Heritage Month lasts from September 15 to October 15. However, for most celebrators who have an intimate, personal connection to this period of great jubilation and pride, every month is Latin Heritage Month. Every month makes up more days in each celebrator’s life where they can be themselves and honor the places, peoples, and customs from which they come. Although there are commonalities in cultural values, virtues, and vibes, the Latin community is wonderfully diverse and each culture has its own uniqueness to bring to the table or, in some cases, the bar. This is a powerful truth that Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal, Mexico’s first, innovative Cristalino Mezcal, not only understands but also feels the need to empower. Honoring its roots, Contraluz Cristalino mezcal is celebrating Latin Heritage month in Miami.
Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal is no stranger to the power of making a name for itself. Its involvement and appreciation of its diverse Latin community have afforded it the benefits of exposure, attention, and support. It’s easy to shine when there is a spotlight and Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal has brought its own illumination to the sunshine state first through its refined product and second through its desire to uplift members of their beloved community.
In celebration of Latin Heritage Month and of all those who celebrate their culture, heritage, and ancestors year around, Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal has presented local Latin bartenders with an opportunity to showcase their talents while also using an exciting refined spirit. To highlight these local Latin bartenders who proudly celebrate their heritage and incorporate their roots into their craft, Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal has partnered with 2 Oz Magazine. Each bartender will use Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal to create their delicious cocktails and to demonstrate how beautiful it feels to live their lives in Contraluz. The cocktails will be available during Latin Heritage Month in the corresponding Bar/ Restaurant.
Miami-raised Cuban Bartender Nicole Urbay plans to celebrate her life in Contraluz by bringing different elements of her culture into who she is and into what she does. She has spiciness. She has a love for her craft. She has a warmth that washes over all her guests. She’s loud. She’s saucy. She’s animated. She makes sure everybody feels comfortable, adding a family dynamic to her service that keeps guests coming back and feeling taken care of. Nicole, similar to her ingredients, knows the value of freshness and of bringing a taste of sunshine and paradise, like lime or orange juice, into any experience that she leads with her dynamic energy and talent.
MIGRONI COCKTAIL
2oz Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal
1oz Select Aperitivo Liquor
Preparation: Mix and Stir the ingredients, served on a coupe glass, garnish with lemon peel.
- This Mezcal Negroni will be available at Baby Jane from September 15th to October 15th. You can follow Nicole on Instagram at @Nicole_urbay
Son of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents, Luisangel Ramirez has always understood that being Latino meant being a part of a diverse community of beautiful cultures. All these cultures, of course, have their own unique traditions and customs that set them apart but maintain a common pride that often unifies members of similar values and virtues. Luisangel, born and raised in Miami, brought a piece of his Cuban culture into his cocktail creation. He experimented with cocktails like “El Consulado” which is his Mezcal riff on an “El Presidente”. Because of the thought behind his creations, he’s able to discuss his Cuban roots while he creates his cocktail. For example, he tells the story of how Cuban Cantineros perfected the technique of throwing a cocktail from the Spaniards and bringing it to the island. He also loves recounting the origins of Cuban Classics like the “Daiquiri” when presenting the delicious drink to guests. This Latin Heritage Month, Luisangel will celebrate his life in Contraluz with his Cuban/Puerto Rican family, all of them enjoying Cafe, Arroz con Frijoles, Música, Tobacco, Ron, and their cultural pride.
EL CONSULADO COCKTAIL
2oz Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal
1/4 oz Agave Syrup
1/4oz Dry Curacao
1 dash habanero tincture
3 dashes orange bitters
0.5oz Dolin de Chambery Génépy liquor.
Preparation: Stirred shortly, thrown, and poured into a chilled coupe glass with orange expressions, garnish with a skewered orange peel.
- El Consulado cocktail will be available at Swizzle Rum Bar from September 15th to October 15th. You can follow Luis on Instagram at @Cocktailsandstrings
Zabdi Cobon comes from generations of fighters. He comes from a people who strove for prosperous lives, working hard for what they wanted until what they wanted became what they had. Zabdi’s ancestors’ goals and dreams became a legacy that he could inherit and honor. Originally from Guatemala, Zabdi also comes from a people who know how to have fun, party, be kind, and support one another. His mom used to have restaurants so he grew up cooking and acquiring a taste for new things. If he didn’t like something, his mom always threatened, “Si no te lo comes, te lo meto por la nariz.” Thanks to this threat, Zabdi always dared to try new flavors and always had the opportunity to find new food to love. Still inspired by his mother, he always tries to combine weird or crazy flavors in his cocktails. He’s not afraid when flavors don’t work because sometimes they not only work but also become a hit, showing the benefit of being unafraid to at least try to create something worthwhile. Zabdi enjoys making people who come to his bar feel at home just as his mom once did when there were people in need of comfort, safety, and shelter. To celebrate his life in Contraluz, Zabdi will offer a little bit of his culture to others. He will share food, time, and experience because this is how he lives every day. Every month is Latin Heritage for him and his loved ones.
SAZÓN LATINO COCKTAIL
0.5oz Mezcal Contraluz
1.5oz Don Fulano Blanco infused with epazote and culantro
White bean cooked with Bacon fat Syrup
Aquafaba
Preparation: Mix all the ingredients, shake with ice and serve on a coupe glass. garnish with bacon crumbles.
- The Sazón Latino cocktail will be available at The Sylvester from September 15th to October 15th. You can follow Zabdi on Instagram at @zee_mjm
For Nikki, celebrating her life in Contraluz involves remembering that being Latin is the core of her existence. Whether it’s hearing a song that ignites her soul or accessing a strong Colombian and Cuban pride, she constantly taps into her ancestral roots. She radiates a luminous love that she learned from the warm and family-oriented culture that surrounded her as she grew up and into the vibrant person she is today. As a Colombian and Cuban, she is very proud of both sides of herself. Both cultures are family-oriented and she adds this value to her hospitality. She also has a good time partying as all Colombian and Cubans do. Her skills behind the bar first feature hospitality. Nikki makes sure that everyone feels welcomed and well taken care of. Second, Nikki’s service features creativity. She grabs inspiration from everything around her or finds a certain source that she needs to access to be able to create incredible cocktails. There’s nothing more satisfying to her than satisfying a guest’s taste palette.
MEZCALERA SE FUE PA’ COLOMBIA COCKTAIL
1oz Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal
0.75oz Lulo juice
0.75oz Sweet Corn syrup
Preparation: Mix all the ingredients, shake with ice and serve on a coupe glass. garnish with Corn husk.
- The Mezcalera se fue pa; Colombia cocktail will be available at Better Days from September 15th to October 15th. You can follow Nikki on Instagram at @Bonjournikki
For Rodrigo Tubert, a part of being Latin means embracing his heritage. It means loving his culture. As an Argentinian, he likes to celebrate his heritage by honoring his roots and keeping his traditions alive. He does Asados, eats Argentinian-style breakfasts, and enjoys typical holidays and Argentinian celebrations. His skills beyond the bar are larger than simply showing formidable hospitality. He loves being a host. He values the creative side of what he does as a member of the service industry and incorporates science into his drinks. After all, Rodrigo has a background in chemistry that adds an undeniable and dynamic element to his cocktail creations. Rodrigo brings his roots to his craft by recreating the thrill of recalling a cherished memory. Feelings and memories can be found in familiar aromas and tastes. This is why people love discovering, learning, and upholding their family recipes. In understanding this phenomenon, Rodrigo brings a sense of nostalgia into his service. He is into something that is a bit melancholic but very good: a gastronomic return to a home or a place that is a part of him even if he can’t return to that home or place as easily as he can in a drink or dish. Rodrigo will celebrate his life in Contraluz by developing a drink that reimagines Argentinian and Latin American ingredients in a modern manner. This drink will also use thrilling techniques to exact key flavors in the best way possible.
LAS PAMPAS COCKTAIL
3/4 oz Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal
0.5oz Don Fulano Tequila Blanco Fuerte
1/4oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco
1oz Chimichurri Cordial,
Club Soda, Lime Leaf.
Preparation: Built in glass, mix, and served on tall glass with Ice cube, garnish with Lime Leaf.
- The Las Pampas Cocktail will be available at Orilla Bar and Grill from September 20th to September 25th. You can follow Rodrigo on Instagram at @tubert
Raymond Bagallo has been the Head Bartender at The National Hotel for four years. Although he was born and raised in NYC to Dominican parents, Miami has been his home for the past sixteen years. Dominican people have big hearts. They are fun, energetic, humble, and giving. It’s these attributes that make Raymond proud of his culture specifically and generally proud to be Latin. Raymond is knowledgeable in classic cocktails and Tiki cocktails. Yet, his strength is in taking care of guests. He values getting to know them and curating personal drinks for them. For these individually crafted drinks, Raymond features Caribbean flavors, colors, hearts, and souls. He celebrates Latin culture every day, every month, and every year. He does not limit his pride and love to Latin Heritage Month. In celebration, he’ll be sipping on a Mamajuana in the Dominican Republic and enthusiastically enjoying his life in Contraluz.
SEÑORITA PICANTE COCKTAIL
2oz Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal
1oz Fresh Habanero simple Syrup
3/4oz Sour AF.
Preparation: Mix and Shake all ingredients in ice, Rim a rocks glass with a mixture of paprika and salt, Top it off with crushed ice, Garnish with dehydrated lime and half a habanero pepper.
- The Señorita Picante cocktail will be available at The National Hotel from September 15h to October 15th. You can follow Ray on Instagram at @its_just_ray_820324
Nini Machin at Tacology Taqueria
Nini Machin is from Venezuela where the people are warm and happy. Venezuelans are also so family-oriented that when they meet new people, they embrace them as family. They are sweet, loving, and welcoming people. As she lives a dazzling life in Contraluz, Nini incorporates the positive attributes and customs of her people and her culture as a bartender. Nini is always welcoming guests with a dazzling smile and a generous helping of enthusiastic hospitality. She strives to get to know her guests and lets them get to know her when she can. She loves to serve them as much as she loves to create their drinks, leaving a memorable impression in the hearts and on the tongues of her guests.
EL CANIJO
2oz Mezcal Contraluz
1oz Sour Af
0.5oz Simple Syrup
0.5oz Chile de Arbol infusion
0.5oz Cointreau
Preparation: Mix all the ingredients, shake with ice and serve on a coupe glass, black salt rim.
- The El Canijo cocktail will be available at Tacology Taqueria from September 15h to October 15th. You can follow Ray on Instagram at @nini_machin
For more information about Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal, please visit https://www.mezcalcontraluz.com/ and @Mezcalcontraluz on Instagramb