The Naught Devil in Disguise is one of our signature Sangiovese creations, a Margarita hiding under a ruby float. Tequila, lime, and orange curacao make the base, with Naught Sangiovese Gin floated on top to bring the deep red cap. Davidson plum sugar rims the glass for native-fruit sharpness. Looks like a Sangiovese drink, kicks like a Margarita.
INGREDIENTS:
- 30ml Tequila
- 25ml Lime Juice
- 15ml Orange Curacao
- 5ml Semi-Rich Sugar Syrup
GARNISH:
- 15ml Sangiovese Gin, as a float
- Davidson Plum Sugar, for the rim
INSTRUCTIONS:
Rim a chilled rocks glass with Davidson plum sugar.
Add the tequila, lime, orange curacao, and sugar syrup to a shaker with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds.
Strain into the rimmed glass over fresh ice.
To finish, float 15ml of Sangiovese Gin slowly over the back of a bar spoon so it settles as a ruby cap on top.
The Naught Devil in Disguise: a quick history
The Devil in Disguise was created at our Eltham bar as a cross between a Margarita and our Sangiovese cocktail family. The float technique is the heart of the drink. By layering Naught Sangiovese Gin on top rather than mixing it in, the cocktail opens nose-first as a Sangiovese drink, then reveals the tequila and lime Margarita underneath as you drink down through the layers. The Davidson plum sugar rim is pure Australian native, sharp, tart, and a little resinous, and it sets up the cocktail before the first sip even hits.
It is the most surprising of our Sangiovese cocktails, the one most likely to make a Margarita drinker question what they just ordered.
You'll also love
- Sanjo Sour, our signature Sangiovese sour and the world's first
- Naught Forbidden Fruit, the tropical Sangiovese signature
- Charlie Chaplin, another fruit-forward classic with apricot and lime
Frequently asked questions
What is the Naught Devil in Disguise?
The Naught Devil in Disguise is a signature Naught Distilling cocktail. It is a Margarita base of tequila, lime, orange curacao, and sugar, topped with a float of Naught Sangiovese Gin and served in a glass rimmed with Davidson plum sugar.
What is a gin float?
A float is a small pour of spirit layered slowly on top of a mixed drink so it sits as a separate layer rather than blending in. We pour the Sangiovese Gin over the back of a bar spoon, which lets it settle as a deep red cap on top of the cocktail until the first sip breaks it.
What is Davidson plum sugar?
Davidson plum is a native Australian rainforest fruit, sharp, tart, and a little resinous. We dehydrate the fruit and grind it with sugar to make a vibrant red-purple rim sugar that adds a fruity-tart edge before each sip. It is the same garnish we use on the Sanjo Sour.
Can I make this without Sangiovese Gin?
The float is the cocktail. Without Naught Sangiovese Gin, you are essentially drinking a Davidson-plum-rimmed Margarita, which is still very good but is not a Devil in Disguise. The Sangiovese is what gives the drink its red-fruit perfume and the visual sleight of hand the name promises.
