Rodrigo Sanchez is a bartender at Simon’s Restaurante in Mexico City.

Cocktail culture is starting to get more relevant in Mexico. This has been helped along by the continued rise in popularity of mezcal, gin and vodka.

My vodka cocktail of the moment, the Belvedere Acapulco aperitif, has a very fresh essence: It is the essence of the beach. The drink is named after— and inspired by—one of the most important beaches in all of Mexico. It is a very tropical cocktail; Latins like sweet flavors.

Acapulco Apertif

2 oz. Belvedere vodka
1 Dash vermouth (Martini Extra Dry)
2 oz. Fresh grapefruit juice
1⁄2 oz. Simple syrup
Gherkin pickle garnish

Combine ingredients and shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice and top off with tonic water. Garnish with gerkin.