A () is a mixed shot made from a clear liquor (traditionally

korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James Shaffer, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and David Silveria, who were members of the band ...

, but sometimes

vodka Vodka ( ; is a clear distilled beverage, distilled alcoholic beverage. Its varieties originated in Poland and Russia. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is ...

tequila Tequila (; ) is a liquor, distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, Jalisco, Tequila northwest of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands (''Los Altos (Jal ...

are used),

tomato juice Tomato juice is a juice made from tomatoes, usually used as a beverage, either plain or in cocktails such as a Bloody Mary (cocktail), Bloody Mary, a Caesar (cocktail), Caesar, or Michelada. Production Many commercial manufacturers of tomato ju ...

sangrita Sangrita (meaning "little blood"), is a Mexican non-alcoholic drink often served with tequila – customarily a shot of tequila blanco. Its origin dates back to the 1920s. History A popular recipe in Guadalajara, Jalisco's largest city, ...

Tabasco sauce Tabasco is an American brand of hot sauce made from vinegar, tabasco peppers and salt. It is produced by the McIlhenny Company of Avery Island in southern Louisiana, having been created over 150 years ago by Edmund McIlhenny. Originally the ...

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

and

black pepper Black pepper (''Piper nigrum'') is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit (the peppercorn), which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about in diameter ...

. The recipe is similar to a

Bloody Mary #REDIRECT Bloody Mary {{redirect category shell, {{R ambig{{R from other capitalisation{{R unprintworthy ...

, but is more heavily spiced and typically served as a shot. Despite its name, the ''Mexikaner'' is a German invention and unknown in Mexico.

History

The drink originates from

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

, Germany, where the barkeeper Mike Coloni first served it in 1987 at his bar ''Steppenwolf'' in

St. Pauli St. Pauli (Sankt Pauli; ) is a quarter of the city of Hamburg belonging to the centrally located Hamburg-Mitte borough. Situated on the right bank of the Elbe river, the nearby Landungsbrücken is a northern part of the port of Hamburg. St. Pau ...

. The recipe was improvised to cover up the flavor of a cheap

fruit spirit Fruit brandy (or fruit spirit) is a distilled beverage produced from mash, juice, wine or residues of edible fruits. The term covers a broad class of spirits produced across the world, and typically excludes beverages made from grapes, which are ...

he had accidentally purchased instead of

, a traditional clear grain spirit. Coloni was satisfied with the result and, after finishing the fruit spirit, continued offering it on his menu, made from korn instead. The name is a reference to the spicy flavor, which a patron found reminiscent of Mexico. Although Coloni did not enjoy the drink himself, the ''Mexikaner''which was sold for only 99

Pfennig The pfennig (; . 'pfennigs' or 'pfennige' ; currency symbol, symbol pf or ₰) or penny is a former Germany, German coin or note, which was an official currency from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002. While a valua ...

()was a hit with his guests. Other bars in St. Pauli soon began offering their own ''Mexikaner'', and the drink became a hit and object of "local pride". Coloni revealed his original recipe in 2008 after his bar closed. Although it is most commonly found in Hamburg, the shot is now available in many other cities in Germany. It is more commonly associated with

dive bar A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele. ...

s and local neighborhood pubs, but can be occasionally found in more upscale establishments.

Recipe

The original recipe from the Hamburg bar ''Steppenwolf'' consists of 0.7 litres of

Korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James Shaffer, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and David Silveria, who were members of the band ...

, 1.5 litres of

and 0.7 litres of ''Taki Taki'' or

; another source gives the recipe as 0.7 litres of Korn, 2.1 litres of tomato juice and 0.5 litres of ''Taki Taki''. This mixture is combined with one heaping

tablespoon A tablespoon (tbsp., Tbsp., Tb., or T.) is a large spoon. In many English-speaking regions, the term now refers to a large spoon used for serving; however, in some regions, it is the largest type of spoon used for eating. By extension, the ter ...

each of salt and black pepper, and 30 ml of

. It is prepared in advance and served cold, without ice, in a shot glass. Like many cocktails, a number of different recipes exist. In some variations, vodka, tequila, or mezcal are used; lemon or lime juice may be present; other spices such as

chili powder Chili powder (also spelled chile, chilli, or, alternatively, powdered chili) is the dried, pulverized fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper, sometimes with the addition of other spices (in which case it is also sometimes known as chili p ...

coriander Coriander (), whose leaves are known as cilantro () in the U.S. and parts of Canada, and dhania in parts of South Asia and Africa, is an annual plant, annual herb (''Coriandrum sativum'') in the family Apiaceae. Most people perceive the ...

, or other herbs. It has been described as a "spicy smoothie", which is "open to endless experimentation." Pre-mixed versions are also available in retail. In comparison to other shots, a ''Mexikaner'' does not contain much alcohol. Depending on the recipe and strength of the korn, a ''Mexikaner'' contains about 6-9%

alcohol by volume Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as alc/vol or ABV) is a common measure of the amount of Alcohol (drug), alcohol contained in a given alcoholic beverage. It is defined as the volume the ethanol in the liquid would take if separated from the rest ...

. One

bartender A bartender (also known as a barkeep or barman or barmaid or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the Bar (establishment), bar, usually in a licensed bar (establishment), establishment as ...

indicated that the vitamins and electrolytes, along with its low alcohol content, make the ''Mexikaner'' unsuitable for those seeking to become intoxicated.

References

{{reflist Culture in Hamburg German alcoholic drinks Shooters (drinks) Cocktails with tomato juice