One of our absolute favorite spots to grab a cocktail in Tucson is Westbound. We always recommend for our guests at JTH Tucson to pop by their bar and bottle shop, which is located on the westside of Tucson in the MSA Annex—a cute outdoor shopping and dining area housed in shipping containers.
We asked their spirits director, Marissa Gatta to help us craft the perfect refreshing cocktail using prickly pear juice we harvested around the inn.
Prickly Pear Ranch Water Recipe
Fill cocktail glass with ice
Add mezcal, lime juice & prickly pear juice
Fill to top with sparkling water
Garnish with a fresh lime wedge
“For the mezcal choice, I used Banhez, it is a blend of Espadín & Barril. I really like using an Espadín, or a blend that has mostly Espadín in it for cocktails. Espadín tends to be citrusy, earthy & peppery with lots of roasted agave flavors in it. The Barril in this blend adds herbal & earthy notes.
I really like using Banhez Mezcal and try to support them as much as possible. Banhez Mezcal is a co-op made up of families & farmers in Ejutla, Oaxaca. There are over 45 families that make up this co-op and more that join in every year. Banhez means bliss in Zapotec language.” – Marissa
We hope you enjoy it, cheers!
Where to Buy
In person: The Westbound Tap & Bottle bottle shop offers curated wine, beer and spirits to pick up to-go, including the Banhez Mezcal used in this recipe.
Online: You can shop Banhez Mezcal here, and if you’re not able to make your own Prickly Pear juice, we recommend Sonoran Rosie’s concentrate.
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A Family Friendly Guide to Tucson, The Joshua Tree House’s Ideal Weekend in Tucson for Visit Tucson
