Mango Overboard

Though we honestly like them all, mangoes are one of our favorite tropical fruits and we just can’t resist them when they’re in season. Mangoes don’t make it into tiki drinks quite as often as other tropical fruits, however. We attribute this to the fact that mangoes, while delicious, have very little acidity and can easily turn a drink too sweet if you’re trying to make mango a dominant flavor instead of a backup player. The key to using mangoes or mango juice is to incorporate elements that contrast with its velvety sweetness

This drink is a variation on an Eastern Sour, pairing mango juice with bourbon in a recipe that typically uses fresh orange juice as a primary flavoring element. The oaky vanilla of the bourbon contrasts well with the sweet mango juice, yielding a drink that is flavorful, but balanced. The quality of your mango juice is going to have a big impact on the finished cocktail. You can juice fresh mangoes, if you have them, or use a pure mango juice (no fillers or additional sweeteners). We picked up our mango juice at Trader Joe’s this time around, but it’s also available at most markets with good international sections, as packaged mango juice is usually imported.  The cocktail is silky smooth and just sweet enough, with plenty of tropical flavor. This is a fantastic summer drink, when mango season is at its peak.

Mango Overboard
2 oz bourbon
2 oz mango juice
1 oz lemon juice
1/4 oz orgeat
1/4 oz simple

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, then shake until well-chilled. Strain into a large old fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a fresh mango slice.