Turn your favorite summer cocktail into a smoky, robust affair by using mezcal instead of tequila.
When it’s summertime and the pool is open, or you’ve just arrived at an island resort ready to start your vacation, a Margarita should be the first order of business. It’s the perfect hot weather beverage, served on the rocks or frozen. However you take yours, you can’t wait for that first, brain-freezing sip as the heat of the day makes you sweat.
Most of the Margaritas that we enjoy are made up of the same core ingredients: tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Since the cocktail’s inception sometime in the 1930s or 1940s (it’s open for debate), there have been a healthy number of variations on the recipe. Tonight’s cocktail, the Mezcal Margarita, is one of them.
What is mezcal exactly? It’s like tequila, but neither is easily interchangeable with the other. Both are made from the agave plant, but while tequila is made using blue agave, mezcal can be made from many other varieties. Tequila will have earthy, peppery and grassy notes infused in it, while mezcal carries a more complex and smoky flavor.
As a result, the Mezcal Margarita is a spicier and more flavorful cocktail than one made with a blanco or reposado tequila. Personally, I’ve found this drink to be a great way to end the day. The extra spikiness and darker flavor the mezcal brings to the traditional Margarita recipe adds an extra layer of magic, making this tipple unforgettable and unique.
What is the Best Mezcal to Use In a Mezcal Margarita?
There’s a lot of mezcal to choose from at my local liquor store. When I first began exploring and experimenting with the rustic spirit, I felt a little out of my depth. So my buddy behind the counter said a bottle of Vida will make me happy. And it did. If you’re not sure where to start when choosing your first bottle of mezcal, go for some Vida. A good friend of mine loves the spirit, and has enjoyed Sombra and Los Vecinos Del Campo on occasion, even commenting that the price is good too. But they usually go back to Vida.
Ingredients
- Salt for the rim
- 2 ounces mezcal
- 1 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 ounce orange liqueur Cointreau or Grand Marnier preferred
- 1/2 ounce agave syrup or simple syrup optional
- 1 lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Rub a lime along the rim of your margarita glass. Dip the rim in salt to coat it and set the glass aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine mezcal, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave syrup (optional) then fill the shaker with ice until it is half full.
- Cover the shaker tightly and shake it well, until it feels really cold.
- Strain the margarita into your prepared glass with a few ice cubes. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish is used?
A wide-mouthed margarita glass with a salted rim and a lime wheel garnish is a classic method of imbibing this cocktail. You can also drink this on the rocks in a lowball or Old Fashioned glass, too. For a little spicy kick, pop a jalapeño slice or two on top.
What else can I add to my Mezcal Margarita?
This is a flexible and easygoing drink, so you can top this tipple off with some club or grapefruit soda if you’d like some bubbles to tickle your nose with each sip.
Mezcal Margarita Variations
There are so many Margaritas to choose from, how do you decide which one to make? Or if you want to narrow your options down, what about similar styles of this classic drink that favor the Mezcal Margarita? Twist & Toast has built quite an archive of different versions of the legendary summertime sipper, so check some of these tasty recipes out for more refreshing suggestions.
- Cucumber Margarita – Ice cold, crisp and spicy hot… this is one Margarita that’ll keep you on your toes.
- Pink Margarita – A little grenadine will make your next Margarita a little sweeter, and a little pink.
- Sparkling Rosé Margarita – An effervescent and lushly colored take on the original.
- Espresso Margarita – Need a little pick-me-up by the pool? This cocktail will do the trick.
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