18 Amazing Mezcal Cocktails

If you’re new to the world of Mezcal cocktails, you’re in luck because we have found 18 amazing Mezcal cocktails that you can try today!

In the last 15 years, Mezcal has started to become increasingly popular in the U.S. While Mezcal used to be considered to be less refined than tequila, it’s time to re-think Mezcal and how wonderful it can be in cocktails. With smoke flavor and tons of options, we’re in love with Mezcal.

When you’re looking for a great Mezcal drink, there’s more to dream about than just a basic Mezcal margarita.

The best Mezcal cocktails can be anything from sour to sweet, and simple Mezcal cocktails are easy to find.

Mezcal cocktails

Mezcal, a smoky and complex distilled spirit, has undeniably grown in popularity in recent years. Originating from Mexico, it is made from the heart of the agave plant and has an unmistakable flavor profile that sets it apart from other spirits. As you explore the world of mezcal cocktails, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the depth and versatility that this artisanal spirit brings to the table.

To start your journey into mezcal cocktails, it’s essential to understand that, unlike tequila, mezcal can be produced with various types of agave. This results in a diverse range of flavors depending on the specific plant and production process. From subtly sweet and floral to boldly earthy and smoky, there is a mezcal that will suit any palate and elevate your cocktail game.

With this newfound appreciation for mezcal, it’s time to dive into the endless combinations and concoctions that can be crafted using this unique spirit. From classic margaritas with a smoky twist to innovative new recipes that showcase mezcal’s range of flavors, you’re sure to find a cocktail that not only complements this enigmatic spirit but opens your eyes to the endless possibilities. So, grab your shaker and raise a glass to the fantastic world of mezcal cocktails.

Mezcal is a liquor from Mexico that has a smoky flavor.

Part sweet and part smoky, Mezcal is an agave spirit that adds tons of flavors to traditional and modern cocktails.

What’s the difference between tequila and Mezcal? Well, tequila is distilled only from specific regions in the country of Mexico and it comes from the blue agave plant.

On the other hand, Mezcal such as El Silencio Mezcal can be distilled from more than 30 different agave varieties.

Are you ready to learn how to make some amazing Mezcal mixed drinks? Let’s dive into these delicious Mezcal recipes!

Source: acouplecooks.com

1. Naked and Famous

If you want a Mezcal cocktail that’s balanced beautifully with citrus, smoky, sweet, and bitter, the Naked and Famous may be just what you’re looking for.

Besides the fun and quirky name, this cocktail is lots of fun to drink.

The Naked and Famous was created in 2011 by a bartender named Joaquin Simo. Simo was working at the New York City bar Death and Co.

To make the Naked and Famous, you need Mezcal, Aperol, Chartreuse, and fresh lime juice.

Garnish with a lime wedge and serve in a rocks glass.

Source: afoodloverskitchen.com

2. Peach Mezcal Cocktail

We can’t leave peaches off of this list of gorgeous Mezcal cocktails, can we?

A peach margarita is like summer in a glass, and you can have it frozen in a blender, with fresh ice cubes, or crushed ice.

To make this peach margarita, you need a very ripe peach that is peeled, seeded, and chopped. For a shortcut, you can technically use Peach Schnapps.

Triple Sec or Cointreau adds tons of orange flavor, and fresh lime juice brings in even more citrus flavor.

Garnish with a peach slice or a lime wedge. Be sure to salt the glass for a wonderful contrast.

Source: grillgirl.com

3. Mexican Mint Julep

The classic Mint Julep is the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby.

Traditionally, a Mint Julep is made with bourbon, but we like this young woman’s idea of making it with Mezcal.

To make a Mexican Mint Julep, you need Mezcal, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup made with mint.

The mint simple syrup is made just as you would normally make simple syrup, but muddle in some fresh mint leaves.

Source: mudandmagnolias.com

4. Honey & Smoke Mezcal Cocktail

When you combine smoky Mezcal and sweet honey, you have a delicious cocktail that is sure to impress.

We love that this Mexican cocktail has an unexpected ingredient: chili powder.

Also, the Honey and Smoke Mezcal Cocktail is made with ginger beer, so it’s just a lot of complex flavors going on.

This Mezcal cocktail gets its sweetness from the honey simple syrup.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

Source: saltpepperskillet.com

5. Mezcal Sour

The Mezcal Sour is a wonderfully smooth sour cocktail that is satisfying and refreshing.

This sour cocktail has citrus layers that are balanced out by some smokiness and sweetness.

As it turns out, the Mezcal Sour has some nutritional benefits that you don’t normally find in a Mezcal cocktail (or any cocktail): tons of protein.

Because the Mezcal Sour has an egg white, it gives you an excellent protein boost.

Plus, the fresh lemon juice (or fresh lime juice) brings home vitamin C. Meanwhile, the agave nectar gives this Mezcal Sour some wonderful sweetness.

This is basically a health-food cocktail in a rocks glass. What’s not to love?

Source: gimmesomeoven.com

6. Mezcal Margarita

The Mezcal Margarita is one of the most popular Mezcal cocktail recipes.

To make a Mezcal Margarita, you need an orange-flavored liqueur such as Triple Sec or Cointreau.

Also, you need fresh lime juice to make the Mezcal Margarita, along with simple syrup to make your margarita sweeter.

If you prefer, you can sweeten your Mezcal Margarita with agave nectar.

Use salt to rim the glass and serve your Mezcal Margarita with ice cubes or crushed ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Source: punchfork.com

7. Cheermister Punch

Who doesn’t love the idea of a big bowl of Mezcal-spiked punch?

Cheermister Punch is made with spicy jalapeno peppers, simple syrup made with honey and ginger, fresh lemon juice, tequila, pomegranate juice (or cranberry juice), and fresh lemon juice.

Be sure you use the salted chili sugar on the rim of your glasses.

Source: inspiredbycharm.com

8. The Prickly Lady

If you’re looking for Mexican cocktails that are unique and satisfying, this prickly pear margarita will hit the spot.

To make the Prickly Lady cocktail, you need Cointreau or Triple Sec. However, you need to substitute Mezcal for the tequila specified in the recipe.

Fresh lemon juice adds even more citrus flavor.

The gorgeous color in this cocktail comes from prickly pear juice, which is Fuchsia in color.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

Source: vanillaandbean.com

9. Strawberry Mezcal Mojito

A mojito is a classic Cuban drink that uses rum, limes, fresh lime juice, fresh mint leaves, and sugar.

When you substitute the rum with Mezcal, you can create an interesting twist on the classic mojito.

This mojito recipe calls for strawberries, and we love the idea of pairing strawberries and Mezcal.

To make the perfect mojito, you need to muddle your mint leaves.

We like to put the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass or cocktail shaker, then add the sugar before muddling. The sugar acts as an abrasive and really draws the mint oils out of the fresh mint leaves.

Garnish your Mezcal mojito with lime wedges and mint leaves.

Source: peelwithzeal.com

10. Mezcal Mule

A classic Moscow Mule is made with vodka, but you can make mules out of several different liquors, including Mezcal.

A Mezcal Mule is made with ginger beer and fresh lime juice, but you can get super creative with this fun cocktail.

If you find that the ginger beer is a bit sharp, you can sweeten it up a bit with simple syrup or honey syrup.

To make honey syrup, mix one part water and one part honey. Warm it up together just until the honey dissolves.

Mules are traditionally served in copper mugs, so be sure to stay in the tradition and serve your Mezcal Mules in a cold copper mug.

Source: mensjournal.com

11. Smoky Watermelon Lemon Margarita

One of the best things you can make with Mezcal is a margarita, and when you flavor it with watermelon, fresh lime juice, and jalapeno peppers, you’ve got a masterpiece in a glass.

You can use either tequila or Mezcal to make this watermelon margarita, but be sure to make your simple syrup with agave. You can buy agave simple syrup already made.

This recipe uses fresh watermelon, so it’s super cool and hydrating.

Source: foodnetwork.com

12. Island Mango Mezcal Breeze

The mango is a fruit that’s much loved in the Caribbean and in Mexico, so it’s only natural to bring this delicious and juicy fruit into the world of Mezcal cocktails.

To make this Mezcal cocktail, you need frozen mango pulp, agave syrup, and sweet grenadine. All of those things add tons of sweetness.

However, this Mezcal cocktail also has bay leaves, an unusual ingredient for a cocktail.

Fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, and orange zest add delightful citrus notes.

Source: fithappyfree.com

13. Mezcal Harvest Ole

In the fall, we love serving cocktails with apple cider and orange juice.

Fall cocktails are a fun way to use apple cider to celebrate, and one of our favorite fall cocktails is the beloved Harvest cocktail.

Traditionally, the Harvest cocktail can have anything from Prosecco to vodka, and this recipe calls for both.

However, we recommend swapping out the vodka for some Mezcal and calling it the Harvest Ole!

The juices in this cocktail are orange juice and lemon juice. Maple syrup adds a much-needed sweetness.

Garnish your Harvest Ole with apple slices, orange slices, or lemon wedges. Serve with a sprig of rosemary.

Source: simplywhisked.com

14. Mezcal Paloma

If you enjoy margaritas, you’re going to love this unique and easy grapefruit juice cocktail.

A Mezcal Paloma is made with fresh grapefruit juice, smoky Mezcal, and sparkling water (or club soda).

This fun and fruity drink is perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day on the deck and it’s a great Mezcal cocktail to serve with spicy Mexican food.

This Mezcal cocktail recipe calls for an orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau) and fresh lime juice, along with ice cubes or crushed ice.

Garnish the Mezcal Paloma with grapefruit slices.

Source: bringingithome.com

15. Mezcal Mango Smash

Who says you can’t make a tropical cocktail out of Mezcal? We’re here to tell you that you absolutely can.

This tropical mango cocktail has Mezcal, coconut tequila, fresh lime juice, cream of coconut, simple syrup, and mango nectar.

Sounds pretty tropical, doesn’t it?

You can also use fresh mango pulp to make this delicious cocktail.

Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker to make them nice and cold.

Serve in a glass with ice cubes or crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple leaf, pineapple slice, or orange slice.

Source: howsweeteats.com

16. Apple Cider Mezcal Margarita

When autumn comes around, it’s time to serve apple cider.

We’ve got another apple cider and Mezcal cocktail on this list, but hey, how about one more?

This Mezcal cocktail is super special because it’s got a spiced sugar rim. To make the spiced sugar, you need sugar, allspice, cane sugar, and cinnamon.

The margarita portion is made with apple cider, Grand Marnier (or Triple Sec), and Mezcal.

Garnish this Mezcal cocktail with cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and a lime wedge.

Source: acouplecooks.com

17. Mezcal Old-Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is one of the most beloved (and oldest) cocktails of all time.

While traditionally the Old Fashioned is made with whiskey, a New York City bartender created the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, or Mezcal Old Fashioned.

Phillip Ward is a bartender at the Death & Co bar, and he invented this Mezcal Old Fashioned in 2007.

For this recipe, you need both Mezcal and tequila, so you could also call this cocktail a Tequila Old Fashioned if you like. Garnish with an orange peel.

Source: umamigirl.com

18. Mezcal Negroni

The Negroni cocktail was invented in Florence, Italy by a man named Count Negroni.

Traditionally, a Negroni is made with gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. However, when you swap out the gin for Mezcal, something magical happens.

For the perfect sweet vermouth, you have a lot of different options. You can go with Carpano Antica, or even try Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino, Dolin, or Punt e Mes.

The Campari is more straightforward and easier to find.

Garnish your Mezcal Negroni with an orange wedge.

Are you intrigued by the idea of learning about the best Mezcal cocktails (and want to know more about how to drink Mezcal)? Watch the video below to learn more about Mezcal and discover how to make five fun Mezcal cocktail recipes.

mezcal vs tequila

Our 20+ BEST Mezcal Cocktails (+Mezcal Margarita)

These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
5 from 8 votes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 290 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 oz. orange liqueur such as triple sec or Cointreau
  • 1 1/2 oz. Mezcal
  • 3/4 oz. Fresh lime juice
  • Simple syrup or agave nectar
  • Sea salt
  • Lime wedges

Instructions
 

  • Use a lime to moisten the rim of a glass, then salt.
  • Shake all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.

Notes

Select your favorite recipe.
Organize all the required ingredients.
Enjoy the food.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal
Keyword mezcal cocktails, mezcal margarita
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
Cassie Marshall
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