Mezcal Margarita
A Margarita with smoky mezcal in place of tequila. Lime, orange liqueur and a pinch of salt.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Strength
- 2.4 UK units
How to make a Mezcal Margarita
- Salt half the rim. Rub a lime wedge on half the rim of a rocks glass and press it into salt. Fill the glass with fresh ice.
- Shake the drink. Add the mezcal, Cointreau, lime and agave syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds, until the shaker is frosted.
- Strain over fresh ice. Strain into the glass over the fresh ice. The drink should look pale and slightly cloudy.
- Garnish and serve. Add a lime wheel on the rim and serve. The first thing you should smell is smoke, then lime.
- Glass
- Rocks glassNo rocks glass? Any short tumbler.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- A lime wheel and a salted half rimOr: A pinch of chilli salt on the rim instead.
What you need to make a Mezcal Margarita
Kit
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Bottles we'd use
- A joven mezcalMontelobos Espadin or Del Maguey Vida are made for mixing and not too expensive.Find it on Amazon
- Agave syrupLight agave syrup dissolves easily and tastes neutral.Find it on Amazon
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The Mezcal Margarita story
There is no single inventor for the Mezcal Margarita. It is a modern variation, and bartenders began using mezcal in place of tequila as it became easier to find outside Mexico. Mezcal is made from agave like tequila, but the hearts are roasted in earth pits, which gives the smoke.
Smoke is strong, so keep the rest simple. A little agave syrup bridges the lime and the mezcal, and less orange liqueur than in a classic Margarita lets the smoke come through. A chilli salt rim is a good extra if you like heat.
Mezcal Margarita: your questions answered
What is in a Mezcal Margarita?
A Mezcal Margarita is made with 40 ml mezcal joven, 20 ml Cointreau, 25 ml fresh lime juice and 5 ml agave syrup. Garnish: a lime wheel and a salted half rim.
Is a Mezcal Margarita shaken or stirred?
A Mezcal Margarita is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps mix the juice in properly, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
How strong is a Mezcal Margarita?
Made to this recipe, a Mezcal Margarita contains about 2.4 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Mezcal Margarita in?
Serve a Mezcal Margarita in a rocks glass over ice. No rocks glass? Any short tumbler.
