Cinco de Mayo is this Saturday, so our thoughts turned to one of the newest (and hottest) Mexican cantinas in town. At Fairmount’s La Calaca Feliz, there are certainly plenty of great margaritas on the beverage menu to pair with eats from chef/owner Tim Spinner and chef de cuisine Lucio Palazzo. However, co-owner Brian Sirhal has concocted several other options for drinking during your fiesta.

One of these is the Tennesse Jed (named after a Grateful Dead song, as all the house drinks are), which harkens to the classic 1920s drink The Boulevardier. Instead of sweet vermouth to soften the bourbon/Campari mix, vanilla simple syrup adds an extra flavor note to this original cocktail recipe. Whip up our Drink of the Week for yourself using the drink recipe below, or swing over to La Calaca Felix and snag one for $8 to sip beside mural-covered walls and festive star-shaped lanterns.

Tennesse Jed

1½ oz. Jack Daniels
½ oz. Campari
½ tsp. vanilla simple syrup

Add all ingredients to mixing glass. Pack with ice and stir. Pour into a rocks glass over ice and garnish with orange zest.

Photo by Courtney Apple