A tantalizing cocktail that pairs smoky mezcal with the sweetly bitter Aperol and Yellow Chartreuse.
In 1996, trip-hop musician Tricky released his album Pre-Millennium Tension. On it is a track titled “Tricky Kid”, where the artist intones:
Everybody wants to be naked and famous (naked and famous)
And everybody wants to be naked and famous (naked and famous)
And everybody wants to be just like me (naked and famous)
It was this song and lyric that inspired legendary New York City bartender Joaquín Simó to create tonight’s cocktail, the Naked and Famous. Born in Ecuador and raised in Miami, Simó invented the drink while working at the speakeasy-styled lounge Death & Co on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 2011. He describes the beverage as “the bastard love child of the Last Word and the Paper Plane, conceived in the mountains of Oaxaca.”
A Last Word is made of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime juice. The Paper Plane is comprised of bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon juice. The Naked and Famous cocktail takes a bit from both of these drinks and combines them to create something wholly unique and original, using a smoky and robust mezcal as the base spirit.
Choosing Del Maguey Chichicapa, a fruity-flavored mezcal, as the base spirit, Simó swapped the green Chartreuse for yellow and combined that with Aperol and lime juice. The results are a balanced and complex cocktail, with intense fruity flavors that blend beautifully with the sour and sweet acidity of the citrus, as well as the smokiness of the mezcal.
What is Chartreuse?
Carthusian monks have been making this herbal liqueur in the Chartreuse Mountains of southeastern France since 1737. Named after their Grande Chartreuse monastery, two different types of the liqueur are created using a secret recipe of 130 herbs, plants and flowers: green and yellow. Green Chartreuse is at around 110 proof, with peppery, woodsy notes as well as hints of mint and citrus. Yellow is a lower proof, at around 80, and is sweeter, with echoes of honey and saffron.
What is the Best Mezcal to Use in a Naked and Famous?
Joaquín Simó originally opted for using Del Maguey Chichicapa mezcal as the base alcohol for his Naked and Famous creation. I found this spirit at my local liquor store, but at almost $80 a bottle, you might want to experiment with something a little less expensive when trying this recipe out for the first time.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce mezcal
- 1 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
- 1 ounce Aperol
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Combine mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice, covering the liquid completely.
- Shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds until the mixture is well chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass.
Nutrition
What type of glass and garnish is used?
Chill a coupe by sticking it in your freezer for around fifteen or twenty minutes. Pour your Naked and Famous into the frosty glass and garnish with a lime wheel, if you wish.
Has the Naked and Famous cocktail received any accolades?
In 2020, the International Bartenders Association (IBA) added the Naked and Famous to its official cocktail list, in the New Era Drinks category.
Similar Cocktails to the Naked and Famous
Feeling fancy? Well, of course you are. It’s about time to put on some Thin Man movies, cut some cheese and make a few classy cocktails. The Naked and Famous is a tasty tipple to start with, but if you’re curious and looking for more elegant and sophisticated drinks to enjoy, Twist & Toast can guide you. Check out these recipes below, and make sure you explore the site for even more ideas.
- Boulevardier – Sweet vermouth and Campari combine to create this ritzy sipper.
- Saketini – This sleek and crisp cocktail will transport you to the neon streets of Tokyo.
- Bellini – This classic bubbly beverage brings the sweetness of peaches to the party.
- Cosmopolitan – Dress up and drink up with this stylish-looking, tasty indulgence.
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