Purple Haze

As I walked into Santa Fe Tequila Company, I felt a little like Alice falling down the rabbit hole into a magical place. Sadly, I saw no caterpillar sitting on a mushroom and smoking a hookah, but the specialty drink list definitely winks at that wonderland with such cocktails as the Micro Dot, White Blotter and Electric Kool-Aid. And even without pharmacological enhancements, the restaurant — brought to us by Bill (not the Lizard) Kennedy of the 9th Door and partner Joe Falko — feels like an enchanted escape from the average Mexican joint into a mix of New Mexican, Mexican and cowboy cuisine. With a great bar attached, of course. I skipped the impressive list of tequilas in favor of a cocktail roster that might as well be labeled "Drink Me." The Yellow Sunshine ($9) was delicious, a combination of Don Julio Reposado, Limoncello, fresh lime juice and homemade simple syrup. The Purple Haze ($9) featured Partida Reposado tequila, triple sec, lime juice and simple syrup, topped with red sangria (a tequila wink at the Tinto de Verano served at the 9th Door). And for a really mad tea party, there's "the 25" ($25), made with awe-inspiring Don Julio 1942 tequila (also available by the shot for $20), Grand Marnier, lime juice and simple syrup. It'll have you grinning like a Cheshire Cat.