Cocktail Friday: La Tomatina

This Cocktail Friday we are taking a (virtual) trip to sunny Spain to sample La Tomatina – the sassy Spanish cousin of the Bloody Mary. La Tomatina was created by mixologist Charlie McCarthy, Creative Director of drinks consultancy All About the Cocktail – (I would love to work at a drinks consultancy). He has created a slew of cocktails to celebrate the World Duty Free Summer Drinks Festival and I have been tasked to recreate La Tomatina at home.

La Tomatina is named after the eponymous festival – a food throwing festival that is. Yup, apparently one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets of Bunol and much as I enjoy eating tomatoes I think I will pass on being pelted with them.

And since I can’t leave a good recipe alone I decided to serve this cocktail as a short, martini-type drink instead of a long one. I think it tastes terrific served short – the Tanqueray No. 10 gin and Amontillado Sherry really shine through and you just get just a hint of the tomato. If you prefer to serve this as a long drink then pour over ice in a tall glass and top up with tomato juice.

La Tomatina
Serves 1
2 tbsp Tanqueray No. 10 Gin
1 tbsp Amontillado Sherry
1 tbsp tomato juice
Juice of half a lemon
A few dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes Tabasco
Pinch celery salt
Salt and pepper to rim the glass
Slice of lemon and a cherry tomato to garnish

Method
1. Fill a small plate with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Rub a lime around the rim of a martini glass then invert into the salt and pepper.
2. Half fill a cocktail shaker (or jug) with ice and pour all the ingredients in. Stir or roll the shaker to combine.
3. Carefully strain the cocktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with a small slice of lemon and a cherry tomato.