The Cordova Bar’s Passion Fruit Daiquiri: it's the jam

I have come to Linda Vista to scope out a friend’s favorite neighborhood bar, The Cordova. After perusing my drink options, I decide that a Passion Fruit Daiquiri sounds just right for this toasty summer afternoon. Bartender Chad Berkey names each ingredient that goes into the tin, then vigorously shakes before pouring the bright yellow mixture into a coupe glass.

“It’s kind of a twist off a friend of ours, Jose’s, cocktail,” says Berkey, giving me the backstory. “Every Monday night, we have guest bartenders come in and they do a big takeover. And he had a version of this and I loved it, and I told him, ‘I’m gonna steal it… but I’m gonna tweak it a little bit, so don’t be mad.’ And he said ‘Everything’s stolen from something; steal away, Chad.’” Armed with that blessing, Berkey made the drink his own. “That was where we introduced the jam and recreated it with a slightly different technique.”

He’s referring to local producer Jackie’s Jams. “They’re awesome! The jam has opened a whole new world of things... And what the jam does is add sweetness, and the texture, so it gives you a rich mouthfeel. Texture is key.” For still more flavor, he pulls out a jar of The Perfect Purée. “This is the best. The drink has a lot of citrus built into it, but this is a high-end passion fruit purée.”

A touch of heat courtesy of Scrappy’s Firewater Bitters complements the smokiness of Ilegal mezcal. “The best thing about this cocktail is it’s a great gateway for experiencing mezcal. Even for people who have never had mezcal, or who have had it and didn’t really like it, this is a cocktail that will open your mind because it’s very approachable. If you don’t like this one” — here, he hesitates — “you may not be a mezcal drinker — which is fine! It’s all about what you like.”

With this cocktail, Berkey aims to hit several of the senses. “Sight is a big thing, and I do a lot of different garnishes, because that’s your first stimulus is the visual. Then, all the flavors — the sweet, the smoke, the spice. And then on top of that, the mouthfeel. So you get different hits in one taste,” he says. “It’ll change even from the time you take your first sip; in the next 20 seconds, it will taste different in your mouth.”

He sends me off with a trick of the trade: “It’s easier to add than it is to take away. So, if you’re at home experimenting, always err on the side of caution. Start with smaller portions and build up. Shake, taste, shake, taste.”

• The Cordova Bar’s
• Passion fruit daiquiri
• 2 oz Ilegal Joven Mezcal
• ½ oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz passion fruit purée
• 1 tsp Jackie’s Jams (passion fruit flavor)
• 2 dashes of Firewater bitters

• Add all ingredients to a shaker tin with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an edible orchid.