Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie of Corrochio's have launched a subterranean agave bar called Cinco.
Downstairs from their Mexican restaurant on Stoke Newington Road, Cinco offers a “curated selection of the finest Mexican spirits”, tasting flights and cockails.
The range features spirits handpicked by the couple during their extensive travels across Corrochio’s homeland of Mexico, while the bar food also draws influence from his family’s cooking.
Cinco’s drinks list, presented in a hand-made menu in collaboration with Mexican artist Cactus Studio, comprises 15 cocktails - five agave based, five using other Mexican spirits and five non-alcoholic serves made from zero-proof distillates and Mexican ingredients.
El Guapo from the menu’s 'Agave' section sees Espadin mezcal, vermouth, Alma Finca Mexican orange liqueur, achiote, and mango with chilli, oregano, bay leaf and citrus shrub.
Under the 'Mexican' header comes El Tejate, blending corn and butter fat-washed Abasolo whisky with a bitter aperitif, Nixta corn liqueur and creme de cacao.
While the Non-alc La Netita is a mix of Almave, homemade chilli syrup, coriander, mint and pineapple.
Cinco also offers its own limited edition mezcal, Pechuga de Piña, a pechuga-style mezcal from a small producer in the Ejutla region of Oaxaca, distilled with fresh local pineapples.
The drinks are accompanied by a selection of five small plates, featuring the upstairs restaurant’s favourite dishes reimagined into bite-sized portions.
The bar food includes Flauta de Pulpo, a blue corn tortilla deep fried with an octopus tentacle, on jalapeno mash; the signature XO Taco with pork belly on a bed of XO sauce, deep fried with panko and topped with salsa borracha and pink pickled radish; and a Scallop ceviche mini tostada with scallops, samphire, guacamole, shaved carrots, onions, chiltepin and black salsa.
The bar’s interior sees bare brickwork with Mexican artwork, collected during the couple's travels across Mexico, and dimmed lighting.
Corrochio and McQuarrie said: “Cinco is a true celebration of Mexico and the talent and expertise of artisan producers. Our aim is to highlight the breadth of Mexican agave and spirits from all over the country paying homage to production, sustainable practices and quality, but in a welcoming, relaxed fashion.
“We are so excited to pass on our knowledge and passion and to welcome guests into our own slice of Daniel’s homeland.”