If you still believe mezcal is a joke with a worm as punch line, it’s time to catch up. With celebrity fans (LeBron James, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have launched their own brands) and billions of dollars in sales, mezcal is now the second fastest growing spirit in the world, according to the United States Distilled Spirits Council.
So what makes Mexico’s small-batch liqueur so appealing? Like tequila, mezcal is based on agave. But while tequila is made exclusively from the blue Weber variety (which is steamed in industrial ovens), mezcal can contain up to 50 different agave varieties, which are roasted in rock-lined pits, giving it a telltale tang or full-bodied flavor. of smokiness.
The results are fiercely unique — making for a kaleidoscope of cocktail riffs, like the one here, courtesy of your favorite Hamptons haunts.
Smokey Way
2 oz. Peloton de la Muerte Mezcal • ½ oz. spiced agave syrup • ¾ oz. fresh lime juice • 1 oz. fresh pineapple juice • Spritz of Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey • Sage Leaf Garnish
Combine mezcal, agave syrup, lime juice, and pineapple juice in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Spritz a double rocks glass with the Laphroaig Whiskey. Add a large ice cube and strain the cocktail over it. Garnish with the sage leaf.
Well here’s another nice Mezcal you got me in
2 oz. Yola Mezcal • oz. Combine Crème de Cassis • ½ oz. Ancho Reyes Verde Chili poblano liqueur • Lime garnish
Fill a shaker with ice and pour in mezcal, crème de cassis and liqueur. Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with the lemon wheel.
El Chapo
1 oz. Dos Hombres Mezcal • oz. 123 Organic Tequila Blanco (Uno) • ¾ oz. lime juice • ½ oz. Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur • 1 oz. guava puree • ¼ oz. agave syrup
Fill a shaker with ice. Add all ingredients and shake well. Rim a double rocks glass with chipotle salt and fill with ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass.
Mezcal Negronic
1 ounce. Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth • 1 oz. Campari • 1 oz. Ojo de Tigre Mezcal • 2 dashes of chocolate bitters • Orange twist for garnish
Fill a double rocks glass with ice. Pour in the vermouth, Campari and mezcal. Add the chocolate bitters and stir until chilled. Garnish with the orange twist.
Start mixing (and sipping) these masterful mezcals
Madre Espadin Mezcal
There’s a ripe, rich fruitiness to this 100% espadin mezcal, making it a nice swap for classic cocktails, such as a Jack Rose or a boozy stirred Negroni. With an average alcohol content of 40%, it’s also a great gateway for the uninitiated
Lobos 1707 Mezcal
Founder Diego Osorio pays tribute to his Spanish and Mexican roots with this grassy, slightly smoky offering. It spends some time in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and adds a distinctly salty layer of dried fruit to the flavor profile—something mezcal-loving investor LeBron James can’t get enough of.
Lejana Y Sola Mezcal
Serious mezcal aficionados, take note. Made in Lachilá, Oaxaca, this 42% ABV ensemblee from espadin and cuishe agave, made by mezcalero Silvestre Cruz Fabian, is not shy in its gasoline-like, rubber-meets-the-road aromatics and tangy, full-bodied flavour.
Los Siete Misterios “Doba-Yej” Mezcal
Made in alembic copper pot stills, this 44% ABV, limited production, from brothers Eduardo and Julio Mestre, is as delightful to drink alone as it is mixed into summery spritzy cocktails, with its lovely notes of spring lilac and lime zest. .
The producer “Ensamble” Mezcal
“Ensamble” is made in earthen kilns and crushed by traditional stone tahonas, pulled slowly back and forth by Oaxacan donkeys. Aside from the authentic imagery, this blend of both espadin and cuishe agave is surprisingly delicate, with a distinctly fresh floral nose, soft sweetness and a hint of smokiness.
