Some events in history are notable because they’re incredible. Some are notable because they’re inspiring. And some, actually a lot, are notable because they’re straight up horrifying.

Once upon a time in a land not too far away there was an empire whose wealth and power was so vast it dominated for a century, but, ironically, was also the source of their power which would ultimately lead to their downfall.

In the face of human brutality and tragedy, sometimes we find the most effective or perhaps, the only way, to mentally and emotionally cope with the horror we’re facing, is to make slightly inappropriate jokes. Following that line of thought I crafted Eat Your Heart Out, a cocktail based on perhaps the most infamous aspect of the Aztec empire, human sacrifice. Grim, I know, but this practice was as historically interesting as the beverage we’ve applied to it.

It’s is made of six ingredients: Black Cherry Juice, Aloe Juice, Vodka, Tequila, Benedictine, and grenadine. Now understandably, you’re probably sitting there thinking, “Aloe juice? Really? What even is that?” Don’t worry, I’ll explain in a bit.

This purplish red drink is slightly reminiscent of blood… which considering the context of today’s story, was intentional.

See for the Aztecs, rituals incorporating human sacrifice had a number of purposes. Historians have come up with theories ranging from ecological, sociological, theological, and political motivations, all of which are probably true in some facet. However, without any primary sources from the Aztecs themselves, we are left to speculate. The vast majority of materials concerning them and their practices came from the Spanish who conquered them. In the writings of Bernal Diaz, Hernan Cortes, and Bernardino de Sahagun, they documented the scope of human sacrifices, numbering in the thousands, was at a level unseen in human history.

For a long time, many academics believed these claims to be forms of Spanish propaganda to justify their conquests. However, recent archeological discoveries have been giving more credence to these terrifying claims. Archeological digs in Mexico in 2016 and 2018 unearthed intimidating skull towers and skull racks containing the severed heads of the sacrificial victims, many of which, at the time of their death, were hung fresh.

You may be wondering why the Aztecs sacrificed so many people and why this moment in human history inspired me to make a drink? The practice of human sacrifice wasn’t new to the world when the Aztecs came along. The Canaanites, Carthaginians, Incans, and Mayans all did it themselves. However, it was the scale of the Aztec sacrifices that made them stand out in the pages of history. It was difficult to consider… so I decided to consider it in terms of alcohol. 

Therefore, it seemed only logical to color the drink blood red and, to achieve this, I’ve chosen organic black cherry juice as it’s base. We then add aloe juice. Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “You mean the stuff I put on my skin for sunburns?” Well, yes and no. Both aloe gel, which is used for sunburns, and aloe juice, which is safe to drink, come from the same plant in Mexico where our story takes place. While you should never drink aloe gel, aloe juice lightens our drink, like comedic moments in a horror movie. We follow that up with tequila, which is also native to Mexico, and vodka, which is not, but it’s a clean liquor that adds depth and clarity.

The geography of the Aztec empire contributed partly to their penchant for sacrifice. While the Aztec religion professed that sacrifices were necessary to appease the gods, such as to ensure the sun would rise, that rain would fall, that they’d be victorious in battle, and that they’d be well situated in this life and the next, the Aztecs also understood that, with an expanding empire, they could use them as a form of psychological warfare to control their enemies.

And it worked… until it didn’t.

The Aztecs reigned for 93 years and were near their peak in power when destruction would meet them at the shores of Veracruz. A Spanish explorer named Hernan Cortes had heard of the land west of Cuba and set out to make a name for himself by embarking on an expedition of his own. He landed at the edge of the Aztec empire and encountered a world of tremendous riches and horror… so he conquered both. In 1521, Cortes and his troops reached Tenochtitlan at the city center and the once dominant empire, soaked in blood, finally fell.

So, with an end to our story, let’s finish our drink. We add some grenadine, to brighten the color, and benedictine, to provide an herbal layer, thereby completing a cocktail as fitting for a story so complex. Eat Your Heart Out is a well-balanced drink, fruity and sweet, tasting nothing like the history that inspired it.

Drink to your heart’s content.