tikichris

Tequila. That’s such a nought-y spirit. If you really wanna impress your boozing compadres while getting your drink on all feliz like, you must update your taste buds. It’s time for mezcal.

Newly opened Mezcaleria Quiquiriqui in Hoxton stocks an impressive range of two dozen or so mezcals. What’s a mezcal? Wikipedia sez it’s “a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant (a form of agave, Agave americana) native to Mexico.” So, kinda like Tequila but mostly from Oaxaca (not Jalisco) and not made from Blue Agave. And if you’re looking to sip the premium stuff, it’s a lot better value for money too.

I checked out Quiquiriqui last night. Loved the vibe (and the super pervy wallpaper). I will return. But more than a cool place to drink, the mezcals on offer tantalized. If already mezcal aware, you’re in luck. If you’re ignorant to these Mexican delights, you are in for a treat.

I tried three mezcals during my visit. First, an introductory shot of Sombre, followed by a shot each of Real Minero Green, Alipús and De Maguey Mezcal Vida. Every single one of those shots was a winner worth savouring – smoky, beguiling and full of character. If I had kept on drinking last night and could only continue with one bottle … hmmm … it would have been a close call between the Real Minero and the Alipús. Ideally though, I would have kept sampling my way through all the different bottles.

Slinging its “finest handcrafted” mezcal drinks from Oaxaca, Quiquiriqui claims to be the first authentic Mezcaleria (that’s a bar that serves mezcal) in the UK. I know there’s already that first floor mezcal bar at the new-ish Wahaca restaurant on Charlotte Street, but I think the Quiquiriqui folks might have a point. As a bar, it is essentially just that. A bar … that serves mezcal. They do cocktails and sell Mexican beer (and micheladas) too. But that’s it.

Quiquiriqui is a hole-in-the-wall in the basement of the Golden Grill Turkish takeaway. Yep, once you’re done sidling up to the bar for shots you can climb back up to street level and grab a kebab on your way out the door. Speakeasy hipster cred? Check. Post alcohol nosh? Double check. There’s a jukebox at Quiquiriqui too, which during my visit was jamming out muffled sounds of 80s pop: enjoyable and somehow providing a well suited soundtrack.

Just as I was calling it a night (10ish), plenty of other people (mostly much younger than me and with jeans painted on) were starting to pour in and a deejay was setting up to spin. That was on a Wednesday. Tonight and over any weekend, I reckon this place will heave.

A good one for contemplative and/or convivial sipping in the early evening and for getting drunk ‘n’ sweaty later in the night, Quiquiriqui is located downstairs at the Golden Grill, 184 Hackney Road, E2 7QL. Find out more at quiquiriqui.co.uk and facebook.com/mezcaleriaQuiquiriqui.