The Chabela Cortez is a fantastic drink for warm days. Fresh, summer tomatoes make it perfect for late summer.

And, it’s delicious for sipping early in the day, like for brunches and…tailgating!

Chabela allows for virtually limitless garnish options, including lime, jalapeño pepper, celery and cherry tomatoes.

This recipe calls for 1/4 ounce of chamoy. You can skip this ingredient, but it does add a unique flavor twist. So, we have included a recipe.

Chamoy is surprisingly simple to make. And we bet you’ll find other creative uses for this sweet, spicy syrup.

Chabela Cortez
Makes one drink

Ingredients
2 1/2 ounces fresh tomato juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/4 ounce chamoy (recipe below)
1/4 ounce simple syrup
1/4-1/2 ounce hot sauce
1/2 ounce olive brine
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 bottle Mexican beer

Directions
Salt the rim of a glass and set aside.

Make the Tomato Juice
Puree fresh, ripe tomatoes in a blender, and strain through a sieve.

Mix the Drink
Combine all the ingredients, except the beer, in a shaker with ice, and shake.

Pour the mixture, including the ice, into chilled beer glass. Top with the beer, and garnish.

Serve with the bottle containing any remaining beer to the side of the glass, so it can be replenished as desired.

Chamoy Recipe

Ingredients
3 dried ancho chiles
10 ounces apricot preserves
3⁄4 cup fresh lime juice
1⁄2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt

Directions
Toast the chilies on a dry, medium-hot skillet, pressing them flat, until they are aromatic (about 10 seconds per side).

Scoop the chilies into a bowl, and cover with hot tap water to rehydrate (about 30 minutes) Stir occasionally to make certain they are soaking evenly.

Drain the chilies, and discard the water. At this point you can open the chiles and carefully remove the seeds. Transfer to a blender.

Place the chilies, apricot preserves, lime juice, sugar and salt in a blender. Puree the mixture until smooth.

Your finished Chamoy should be the consistency of syrup. If necessary, add a bit of water to thin it.

Store in a jar in the refrigerator.