In 2015, Marco Montefiori of Amaro Montenegro crafted the M&M Cocktail, aptly named as a shorthand for "Monte y Mezcal." This innovative blend was later popularized by Robert Krueger at Employee's Only, New York, bringing the unique fusion of smoky mezcal and herbal amaro to the forefront of modern mixology.
I still remember the first time I stumbled upon the M&M Cocktail. It was a chilly evening in a tucked-away speakeasy in Prague, and the bartender, seeing my indecision, offered me something "special." The blend of smoky Mezcal and the herbal sweetness of Amaro Montenegro was unlike anything I'd ever tasted. It felt like discovering a well-kept secret—a perfect fusion of flavors that danced on the palate.
But the M&M cocktail is special in many ways. It's simple to make, needs only two ingredients, offers a vast array of flavors, and is also one of the best and easiest freezer-door cocktails there is.
Quick facts about the M&M cocktail
- Method: stirred
- Flavor profile: dry, boozy, herbal, rich
- How to serve it: Over a large ice cube in an Old Fashioned glass, garnished with orange zest
- Glassware: Old Fashioned glass
- Alcohol content: ~ 25.5% ABV, 22 grams of alcohol per serving
The key ingredients in an M&M
Talking about the ingredients of a two-ingredient cocktail isn't the most complicated. You'll only need Mezcal and Amaro Montenegro, right?
Well, yes - but there's a bit more to this than you would expect at first. The inventor, Marco Montefiori, was working for Amaro Montenegro at the time he came up with this concoction. However, nowadays you'll often see twists and riffs using all kinds of Amaros in the cocktail.
The most popular Amaro choices besides the classic Amaro Montenegro are Amaro Nonino and Cynar.
For the Mezcal part, the two most common options are Del Maguey Vida and Mezcal Banhez.
Expert advice: Use bitters
With 2-3 drops of cocktail bitters, you can make this drink even better. My personal favorite is chocolate bitters, but you can also opt for orange bitters to bring some freshness into the drink.
How to make the cocktail
The M&M is a stirred cocktail, here's how you make it right:
- Chill your Old Fashioned glass: Put it in the freezer for a few minutes or fill it up with ice to cool the glass down.
- Stir the cocktail: Add Mezcal, Montenegro, and optionally bitters into an ice-filled mixing glass and stir the drink for 20 to 25 seconds.
- Prepare the glass: Get your Old Fashioned glass out of the freezer or discard the ice you used to chill the glass. Then put a large ice cube into the glass.
- Strain and garnish the drink: Strain the cocktail into your Old Fashioned glass and garnish the drink with an orange peel.
How to make a M&M freezer door cocktail
The M&M is an easy freezer-door cocktail. If you don't know what that is, it's easily explained. A freezer door cocktail is a pre-batched drink stored in the freezer, allowing you to serve a perfectly chilled cocktail instantly by simply pouring it straight from the freezer. To make an M&M freezer door cocktail, all you have to do is:
- Prepare a clean bottle: We need a container where we can store the cocktail. It should be clean and sterilized.
- Measure both ingredients: This is an equal-part recipe, so you simply need to mix one part Mezcal with one part Montenegro. If you want to use bitters, adding 10 to 15 drops should be fine.
- Shake and store: Seal the bottle, shake it, and then store it in the freezer door to cool your batched M&M cocktail down.
- Serve: Once it's chilled, you simply need to serve it over a large ice cube any time you want an M&M.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing glass
- 1 Bar spoon
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Mezcal - (Del Maguey vido or Mezcal Banhez)
- 1.5 oz Amaro - (e.g. Montenegro or an alternative like Nonino or Cynar)
- 2-3 drops bitters - (chocolate or orange)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir for 20-25 seconds until the drink is well-chilled.
- Strain into a rocks or old fashioned glass over a large ice cube.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
FAQs
The M&M Cocktail can be enjoyed year-round, but it's especially delightful during winter evenings and summer gatherings. Its smoky and herbal flavors make it suitable for both cozy nights and refreshing occasions.
The M&M pairs well with spicy foods, grilled meats, and dark chocolate desserts. The cocktail's flavors complement rich and robust dishes.
"M&M" stands for "Monte y Mezcal," highlighting the main ingredients Amaro Montenegro and mezcal. It's also a nod to the creator, Marco Montefiori.
A rocks glass or old-fashioned glass is ideal for serving the M&M Cocktail. However, you can use any short glass you have on hand.