As we transition into fall, so begins the menu shift from clear spirits to those that have an age, spice, and oak. Cocktail menus aren’t the only things that are shifting, the bats that call the South Texas area home for the majority of the year are starting to migrate as well. What better way to honor these intriguing mammals than with a Cocktail of the Week in their honor?
Hoppy Monk, located on San Antonio’s far North Side just inside Loop 1604, has dedicated a drink on their menu to local bats. The cocktail, which is accurately called, For the Bats, is a combination of Siembra Valles High Proof Tequila, Skinos — an interesting Greek liqueur that is made from tree sap — Montardo Aperitivo, and lime. It was created by Ricardo Ruiz, bar manager at the Hoppy Monk, who wanted to create a balanced and interesting drink that still showcased the tequila in the cocktail.
The result is a beautiful, near-perfect cocktail that finds that said balance between different flavor profiles. The tequila is perfect for those that are wanting to savor the flavor of the spirit. The Skinos adds a slight sweetness with the aperitivo and the lime and bitter and tart notes that round out the cocktail. This is the perfect drink to sip on while scanning the sky for those creatures that the concoction is named after.
And you can sip on it for a good cause — $1 from each cocktail purchase benefits the Tequila Interchange Project (TIP), which helps to preserve traditional methods of creating and distilling tequila. Bats play a vital role in the agave pollination process and TIP is dedicated to ensuring the bat population is sustained. Without the bats, the agave industry as we know it could cease to naturally exist.
Don’t worry, while the bats are starting to migrate, the drink is here to stay. As it is a fundraising item, Hoppy Monk plans on having For the Bats on their menu for the next couple of months. The cocktail will only put you back $10 and is available during normal business hours, including brunch.
