When was the last time you saw an ice sculpture? For me, it was on a cruise in what seems like a million years ago, until the night of the Gran Malo Spicy Tamarind Tequila launch party this summer 2024, where they had a 3-foot ice sculpture of a beautiful Gran Malo bottle.
I received an invitation to attend this launch party. I didn’t know what Gran Malo was, but I thought it would be fun to learn about. I was told “Gran Malo, a tequila-based, spicy tamarind flavored shot with a tangy, sweet & spicy taste profile, was founded in 2021. It is a fan favorite in Mexico and Latin America. And recently released in Southern California. Gran Malo embodies a vibrant energy of adventure and playfulness.”
I was told that Mexican Youtuber Luisito Comunica, the brand ambassador, would be attending the party, and the event planners conscientiously sent me an Uber voucher so that I would arrive and depart safely. The event planner offered to introduce me to Luisito and I was excited to meet him. When he walked into the room, fans immediately surrounded him, and I never got to talk with him. He is adored because he is fun, daring, and spontaneous.
We were told that an icy shot is the best way to enjoy this liqueur. So, we had a few! Although I never got to talk to him, I was able to try a few cocktails with this liqueur. My first thought was Yum! This is surprisingly spicy. If you haven’t tasted tamarind, it’s considered a fruit, but I always thought it was a seed pod that hangs from a tree. I’ve only seen this in the Southern US and Mexico. You take the pulp out of the Inside the pod. It is high in tartaric acid, giving a sweet and sour taste and a tart flavor. Gran Malo says, “Many people describe the fruit as something similar to tropical lemonade with a hint of caramel. At first, it’s sweet, and then a tarty sourness creeps up your throat.”
According to their tasting notes: “The tequila is a meticulous blend of concentrate from macerated Mexican Chiles, natural tamarind flavors, and cane sugar with tequila blanco.”
I was sent two bottles of the liqueur (complete with recipes for cocktails) to review with a group of writers. We tried all of the cocktail recipes. They were all delicious. Here are a couple of recipes (which can be found on their website: https://granmalo.com).
Malito Rico
1 ½ oz. Gran Malo Spicy Tamarind
1 oz. Natural syrup
1 oz. lime juice
6 cubes of pineapple muddle in a shaper (or 1 oz. pineapple juice)
A sprig of fresh mint
Top with soda
Gran Paloma
2 oz. Gran Malo Spicy Tamarind
2 oz. Grapefruit Juice
¼ oz. lime juice
Top with Grapefruit soda
Baby Malo
2 oz. Gran Malo Spicy Tamarind
3 oz. Mango Juice
½ oz. lime juice
Top with soda
