A suitably interesting alternative to a Margarita. A few hefty dashes of bitters add depth and warm baking-spice notes to the drink. Some modern-day iterations call for it to be topped with club soda, but the classic is plenty refreshing without it—a fine replacement for your usual Margarita.
Shake until chilled, then strain into a Collins glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
This witchy brew has a deep herbaceous complexity, aided by a dash of grapefruit bitters brightening the lush tones of the cocktail. The original recipe calls for grasshopper salt, but you’ll have to catch your own if you want to be authentic.
Stir with ice in a rocks glass until well chilled. Garnish with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Lower proof, bubbly, pink, and delicious. The Lone Ranger is is a twist on the classic French 75, perhaps the most well-known example of a sparkling wine cocktail.
Shake mezcal, lemon juice and simple syrup until well-chilled. Strain into a collins glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon twist.
This cocktail – named for the Mexican state from where most mezcals hail – helped kick off the mezcal craze in the United States and is a riff on the classic whiskey Old Fashioned. The original version mixes lightly aged reposado tequila and mezcal, but I prefer to go all in and amp it up with the ancient aphrodisiac Damiana.
Stir with ice in a rocks glass until well chilled. Flame an orange peel over the top of the drink to express its oils, then garnish with it.
This simple and refreshing grapefruit highball is beloved for a reason. When you’re looking for a refreshing cocktail that will hit all the right notes in less than two shakes, the Paloma’s three-ingredient highball built directly in the glass is a sure thing.
When making with mezcal, choose one that is light and less smoky to keep that clean and crisp flavor.
Combine in an ice filled glass, then gently stir. Garnish with a lime wheel.
This take on the devilish classic simply swaps in mezcal for the traditional tequila. Topped with crème de cassis (a sweet blackcurrant liqueur), this will tingle your taste buds.
Add ice to your glass. Stir together the lime and mezcal. Carefully top with ginger beer and then finally float the crème de cassis. Garnish with a lime wheel.
An earthy twist on a classic cocktail, this Mezcal Negroni recipe will surprise your tastebuds in the best way. Made with only three ingredients, this simple, refreshing cocktail will become a staple in your bar creations.
My version tones down the bitterness with Aperol taking the place of Campari.
Stir together. Carefully twist and pinch the orange peel over the glass to release a small amount of oil.
Earthy tequila, spicy jalapeño and fresh watermelon come together for this perfect summer cocktail. It’s fragrant, bright red and laced with electrolytes. Make in case of hot weather.
Watermelon is underutilized in cocktails, and it’s easy to see why. Use too little, and the flavor is lost. Use too much, and you can dilute your drink. But when the combination of spirit and watermelon balanced with citrus and sweetener come together accurately, it hits a stellar note and goes down in a hurry.
Muddle and stir. Strain out the pulp, if you like.