Gracias Madre's Maxwell Reis makes Agave Cocktails

<p>On <i>Play Me a Recipe, </i>your favorite cooks will walk you through their most treasured recipes, offering all the insider tips, stories, and tricks you won't get from a written recipe—and you'll be right alongside them, every step of the way. </p><p><a href="https://food52.com/recipes/88309-purista-margarita-from-gracias-madre"><strong>Purista Margarita Recipe</strong></a><br />Makes 2 cocktails</p><p>Chile Salt & Agave Syrup</p><ul><li>1/2 cup Himalayan salt</li><li>2 teaspoons chipotle powder</li><li>2/3 cup agave nectar</li><li>1/3 cup boiling water</li></ul><p>Cocktails</p><ul><li>4 ounces blanco tequila or mezcal</li><li>4 dashes orange bitters</li><li>2 ounces fresh lime juice</li><li>3/4 ounce agave syrup</li><li>Chile salt</li><li>Lime peel or jalapeño slice, for the rim</li></ul><ol><li>Make the chile salt: In a small jar, add the salt and chipotle powder. Store covered for up to 1 month.</li><li>Make the agave syrup: In a medium jar, add the agave and water and stir until the agave has dissolved into the water. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.</li><li>Make the cocktails: In a cocktail shaker with ice, add the tequila, bitters, lime juice, and 3/4 ounce of the agave syrup. Shake well. Dip two rocks glasses in the chile salt and add ice. Strain the tequila mixture over the ice and garnish with a lime peel or jalapeño.</li></ol><p><a href="https://food52.com/recipes/88314-oaxacan-cup-cocktail-from-gracias-madre"><strong>Oaxacan Cup Recipe</strong></a></p><p>Makes 2 cocktails</p><p>Cocktails</p><ul><li>4 ounces mezcal</li><li>1 lime, sliced into wedges</li><li>12-16 slices of Persian cucumber (about two cucumbers)</li><li>4-6 slices of jalepeño (about 1 chile)</li><li>1 1/2 ounces agave syrup (see above)</li><li>1 cup ice cubes</li><li>Chile salt (see above)</li><li>1 splash soda water</li></ul><ol><li>Make the chile salt: In a small jar, add the salt and chipotle powder. Store covered for up to 1 month.</li><li>Make the agave syrup: In a medium jar, add the agave and water and s