Every Beet of My Heart – Tequila Cocktail

A little while ago, my wife and I went out with a couple of friends to a restaurant in Providence, RI called Broadway Bistro (review coming soon). At that restaurant I tried a drink that they called the “Just Beet It,” which is a great pun using the refrain from the immensely famous Michael Jackson song, “Beat It.” The description intrigued me because I’d never had beet juice before and I’d definitely never had it in a cocktail. The cocktail contained tequila, lime, and beet juice. The most interesting part was that it tasted exactly like those three ingredients. Each flavor remained obvious, but somehow really worked together very well. The sweetness of the tequila, the acidity of the lime, and the earthiness of the beets gave the impression of drinking a salad, but in a good way if there is such a thing.

I enjoyed the drink so much that I vowed to replicate it at home. After getting snowed in on Valentine’s Day due to the severe winter storms, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try making this bright red drink. During the process I tried coming up with some names for it like, “BEet Still My Heart,” or “BEet My Valentine,” or “Yah Mo Beet There,” but it was my wife that finally suggested, “Every Beet of My Heart,” to drive it home. I’m pleased with the results and happy to have broadened my cocktail scope.

Makes 1 drink at 209 to 274 calories depending on how much Tequila is used.

Ingredients

• 2 – 3 oz. of Silver (White) Tequila (about 130 to 207 calories)
  Note: I like my drinks on the stronger side. Use 2 oz for a lighter drink or 3 oz. for a stronger drink. 
• 2 oz. Beet Juice or water from jarred beets (about 15 calories)
• 1 oz. fresh Lime juice (about 4 calories)
• 1/2 oz. Agave nectar (60 calories)
• Two cubes of ice or one large cube

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Rocks glass
• Jigger or ounce measurements

Directions

1. Pour the tequila, beet juice/water, lime juice, and agave into the cocktail shaker. 
2. Shake the ingredients for about 15 to 30 seconds.
3. Add the ice to the glass and pour the drink over the ice.
4. Garnish with a lime peel and/or a lime wedge.