Why The Chaos Demon at Yellow Door Taqueria is the Hottest Marg of Summer

Yellow Door Taqueria Partner/Operations and Beverage Director Colleen Hagerty started bartending years ago to support herself in college, and it stuck. “I now spend most of my time looking for creative ways to elevate our bar program that preserves our core menu but is always evolving,” she says of the Mexican joint on Dorrance Street. “After all these years, it’s still exciting to work on menus, and the summertime creations are my favorite. We have a heavily agave-based spirits menu, and tequila and mezcal are such perfect bases for delicious and well-balanced cocktails.”

What are you drinking this month?

The Chaos Demon – silver tequila, watermelon, rosé vermouth, basil, rhubarb bitters, and fresh lime. Yellow Door Taqueria has become well known for having amazing margaritas with high-quality, fresh ingredients that are seasonally driven.

Tell us why you like this drink.

It’s an elevated version of a perfect summer margarita – well-balanced, refreshing – with fresh watermelon and lime juices that pair well with the agave and herbal spirits. 

What makes this drink right for this time of year?

As New Englanders, we suffer through the winter to celebrate every single day of the summer, and you can feel that in the ways we embrace the summer cocktail program – a ton of fresh fruit and unique flavor pairings. Summer is always dedicated to tequila – I genuinely feel that tequila tastes better on a warm day, sitting on the patio! 

What is the origin of this drink?

This drink is the creation of my Yellow Door business partner Jarek Mountain – he loves pairing summer produce with non-traditional, unexpected flavors like basil and rhubarb.

What snacks/foods pair well with this drink?

The Chaos Demon is a perfect fit for Yellow Door’s summer tuna ceviche or our fish frito taco. It would also be a great complement to our street corn nachos. 

When you have time off, where do you like to go for a drink and why?

I feel like the Providence cocktail scene is exploding, and I have a giant “to-do” list of bars and restaurants to visit this summer. Topping this list are Juniper, Loma, and our neighboring cocktail bar Esther’s High Dive, and Gracie’s, to try their newest summer-inspired cocktails.

The Chaos Demon

• 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 oz watermelon cordial
  (freshly juiced watermelon juice, sugar, 100 proof vodka)
• 1/2 oz basil liqueur 
• 1/2 oz pink vermouth
• 1 oz silver tequila

Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously. Double strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a Thai basil bouquet, lime wheel tajin sprinkled on top and rim.

Yellow Door Taqueria

191 Dorrance Street

YellowDoorTaqueria.com

@yellowdoortaco, @colleenhagerty