New M'tucci's Cocktails
/While food writers and food magazines are buzzing with the “new” popularity of cocktail culture, the art of crafting classic cocktails and creating new cocktails has been a hallmark of our bars from the beginning.
When M’tucci’s VP/Partner Austin Leard created our Shrub flavors in 2014 and used them in unique cocktails, our bartenders were inspired to create new flavors and new combinations, a creativity that has always been encouraged.
The evidence of that creativity is featured every weekend, when all M’tucci’s restaurants offer a unique “Weekend Cocktail” special. Created by the managers or the bartenders, everyone is given free rein to make something that we and our guests will like to drink.
You vote with your taste buds, since a popular Weekend Cocktail will often find a permanent place on the cocktail menu.
Austin mixing a shrub cocktail at M’tucci’s twenty-five
Soon after M’tucci’s Moderno opened, Austin was helping out behind the bar one night and two women asked him to create something for them with bourbon. He made a drink with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Cassis Noir, Fresh Lemon Juice and Rhubarb bitters and called it “Bourbon & Berries”. It has been on the menu at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five since we opened and it is the most popular cocktail at that location. Also, it is my wife’s favorite cocktail. Recently, she loves ordering the Inner Flame, made with Sombra Mescal, St. Germaine, Ginger Liquid Alchemist, House Made Honey Syrup and Fresh Lemon Juice.
Of course, Italian cocktails have always been at the center of our cocktail program. You can be sure we will serve the best Negroni, Negroni Sabagliato (always with Prosecco) and Aperol Spritz. With a growing selection of Amaro, the bittersweet Italian spirits are being used in more of our cocktails.
“We started incorporating Amaro into our beverage culture four years ago and it has slowly taken off. Our staff is becoming more comfortable with them and using them in cocktails,” Austin said.
While all of the locations are creating cocktails with Amaro, the bartenders/managers at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five seem to be leading the charge, especially after their Amaro Pairing Dinner in March. Two recent Amaro cocktails have appeared as Weekend Specials: the Two-Way Street with Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Amaro Nonino & Zucca Rabarbaro, and for St. Patrick’s Weekend they mixed Slane Irish Whiskey with Campari.
There are no limits to the spirits you will find on our cocktail menus or in our Weekend Specials, but we love whiskey! Manhattans, Old Fashioned, Boulevardier (the perfect cocktail using Amaro & Whiskey), or the Paper Plane (once again using Whiskey & Amaro).
The next Five-Course Pairing Dinner will be held at M’tucci’s Bar Roma on Tuesday, May 16 and will feature cocktails and neat pours of whiskeys from Jefferson’s & Rabbit Hole, both Kentucky-based distilleries who make World-Class Bourbons and Rye. Our dinner will be held on the patio (weather permitting) and will be an event you won’t want to miss. Watch La Gazzetta and social media for a menu.
If you were not one of the lucky 50 guests to attend the 5-Course Pairing Dinner with Sheehan Winery, you missed an evening filled with great food paired with terrific New Mexico wine, and of course, lots of laughs and great conversation. Everything was really good, but the dinner started on a high note with the Scallops topped with slightly spicy Apricot Reduction served with the Cinsault Rosé, and ended on an even higher note with Chef Brianna’s Honey Brie Panna Cotta, with Cherry Gelee, Pistachio Cake Pieces, Blackberry Meringue and Vanilla Tule paired with a Port-Style Turas Dessert Wine.
The logical evolution of M’tucci’s cocktail culture was the birth of Teddy Roe’s Bar. With two of Albuquerque’s most creative bartenders, Jessica O’Brien and Arcy Law, at the helm, their list of classic cocktails and new creative cocktails make for an unforgettable evening. A new menu cocktail is Spring Migration - Gray Whale Gin, Sugar Snap Pea & Dandelion Cordial, Orange Blossom Water, Fresh Lemon Juice.
“Our vision was to bring “petrichor” to your palate. This cocktail is designed to taste the way rain smells in all its glory,” Arcy said.
For this weekend, Sara at M’tucci’s Bar Roma has created an inverted Tequila Sunrise, calling it the Tequila Sunset made with Espolon Blanco, M’tucci’s Strawberry Basil Shrub and Fresh Lemon and Orange Juices.
At M’tucci’s Italian, Lauren fires up the Pink Flame-ingo with Ford’s Gin, Pilla Select Liqueur, Lazzaroni Maraschino Liqueur, Red Raspberry Syrup and Fresh Lemon Juice.
While I am usually the M’tucci’s messenger, I suggested a cocktail at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five yesterday and Rebecca, Kaylene and Daizy went with it. My idea came from my love of both Margaritas and Amaro, especially Amaro with notes of citrus. The Photographer’s Dream is made with Espolon Blanco Tequila, Meletti Amaro, Agave Syrup and Fresh Lime Juice. I may see you at the bar having one!
A video of our Weekend Cocktails is posted every Friday on our TikTok and Instagram feeds. Follow us to see what we are mixing for you.
The Manhattan Project
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli - Pesto Ricotta Filling - Mushrooms, Red Onions, Turnip Greens, Italian Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce, Pecorino, Parsley $27
14 oz. NY Strip - Hand Cut Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $36
Pan-Seared California Halibut - Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $36
Braise - Sackett Farms Pork Belly - Pineapple Rosemary Shrub Braise, Brown Butter Sage Sauce Gnocchi, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Arugula, Red Pepper Pineapple Relish, Micro Greens $29
Weekend Cocktail -
Pink Flame-ingo - Ford’s Gin, Pilla Select Liqueur, Lazzaroni Maraschino Liqueur, Red Raspberry Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice
M’tucci’s Moderno
14 oz Ribeye - Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $43
Pan-Seared Scallops - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Roasted Artichoke, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $33
Portobello Chicken Pasta - Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Spinach, Mushrooms, Roasted Garlic Demi-Glace, House Made Spaghettini $23
Weekend Cocktail
Spring has Sprung - Espolon Reposado, St. Germaine, Blood Orange Puree, Fresh Lime Juice, Orange Bitters
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
24 oz Bone-In NY Strip - Charred Broccolini, Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Blackberry Bone Marrow Butter $42
Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Greens, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $33
White Wine Braised Bison Short Ribs - Creamy Mascarpone Polenta, Tuscan White Beans, Sautéed Heirloom Spinach $32
Weekend Cocktail
Photographer’s Dream - Espolon Blanco Tequila, Meletti Amaro, Agave Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice
M’tucci’s Bar Roma
Lobster Ravioli - Five-Cheese Stuffed Ravioli, Butter Poached Slipper Lobster, Braised Leeks, Oven Roasted Tomatoes, Saffron Cream Sauce $27
Pan-Seared Yellow Tail - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Arugula with Garlic, Seared Stem-on Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $31
Weekend Cocktail
Tequila Sunset - Espolon Blanco Tequila, M’tucci’s Strawberry Basil Shrub, Fresh Lemon & Orange Juices
Live Music for April
M’tucci’s Bar Roma - Wed 6:30-8:30. Sunday noon-2pm
4/16 Shane Wallin
4/19 RJ Perez
4/23 Nathan Fox
4/26 Shane Wallin
4/30 Jacob Chavez
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - Thursday 6:30-8:30 * Friday 7:30-9:30
4/14 RJ Perez
4/20 Jacob Chavez
4/21 Lani Nash
4/27 Justin Nuñez
4/28 Melissa Rios
M’tucci’s Moderno - Thursday 6:30-830 *Friday 7:30-9:30
4/14 Lani Nash
4/20 Oscar Butler
4/21 Justin Nuñez
4/27 Nathan Fox
4/28 Eryn Bent
Teddy Roe’s Bar
4/17 Alex Murzyn (sax, piano and vocals)
4/24 Xandra
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
