The Brave

Bobby Heugel, Anvil Bar & Refuge | Houston, TX

the brave cocktail recipe bobby heugel daniel krieger

Bobby Heugel worked on The Brave cocktail for a full year before opening Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston in 2009, and it remains the only drink that has been on nearly every Anvil menu since opening day. Not unlike Anvil itself, the Brave is a bit of an oddball considering it doesn’t get shaken or stirred with ice—just swirled around in a wine glass and then misted over with aromatic Angostura bitters and garnished with a flamed orange peel. Perfectly delicious and balanced in its own right, the Brave changes the idea what a traditional cocktail can mean. In a tongue-in-cheek nod to the cocktail’s constancy, staff will often answer Anvil’s phone with,“Anvil, home of The Brave. How may I help you?”

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 1 ounce mezcal (preferably Del Maguey Vida)
  • 1 ounce mezcal (preferably Del Maguey Vida)
  • 1 ounce blanco tequila (preferably Siembra Azul)
  • 1 ounce blanco tequila (preferably Siembra Azul)
  • 1/2 ounce Averna
  • 1/2 ounce Averna
  • 1/4 ounce Royal Combier
  • 1/4 ounce Royal Combier

Garnish: 3 mists Angostura and a flamed orange peel

Directions
  1. Build ingredients in a wine glass.
  2. Swirl to combine.
  3. Mist sides of glass evenly with Angostura (in a mister bottle) and garnish with a flamed orange peel.