For more smoky cocktail recipes, try our mezcal negroni and our mezcal sour!
What is a mezcal margarita?
We’re sometimes reluctant to mess with a good thing, but this is a case where the variation really works. It’s everything we love about a classic margarita but with an assertive depth and earthiness from mezcal. If you’re new to mezcal, you can think of it as tequila’s cousin. They’re both made from the agave plant, but mezcal is buried in pits with hot rocks which imparts a strong smoky flavor. Making a mezcal margarita is just like making a regular margarita. Rim your glass, mix the ingredients together, pour it into glasses, and serve it garnished with a lime wedge. For this recipe, we make an easy homemade agave simple syrup for an authentic sweet taste. It’s made by just dissolving agave syrup in water, and any unused syrup stores well in the fridge so you can make your next margarita even faster. Mix up a mezcal margarita for a bold, refreshing drink on a hot day when you feel like venturing beyond the usual. It pairs naturally with Mexican food and it’s the perfect drink for Cinco de Mayo celebrations! If you’ve ever wondered if you can use mezcal in margaritas, the answer is yes! You only need a handful of ingredients to make this mezcal margarita recipe. Here’s everything you need:
Margarita salt – margarita salt varies but one ingredient they all have in common is coarse-grained salt. They also usually contain citrus zest (lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit), and sometimes chile powder or other spices. We use Tajín in the pictures. Mezcal – it’s not necessary to buy top-notch mezcal for this recipe, but quality does count. Since it’s a spirit-forward cocktail, a sipping-quality mezcal will make this drink the most enjoyable. Lime juice – as with all cocktails, fresh lime juice is best! Agave simple syrup – for an authentically sweet taste that will balance out the sour lime juice and smoky mezcal. You can also make honey syrup by substituting the agave for honey. Triple sec – this clear, orange-flavored liqueur offers a citrus punch that’s classic to a margarita.
The easy-to-make agave simple syrup is made with just two ingredients: agave and warm water. You can make as much as you’d like by mixing 2 parts of warm water with 1 part of agave syrup. For example, for a larger quantity, use 2 cups of water and 1 cup of agave syrup.
Make a pitcher of mezcal margaritas
If you’re hosting a party or serving a crowd, instead of mixing up individual drinks, make a pitcher of mezcal margaritas! Simply use a standard pitcher and scale up the ratio by using cups instead of ounces. Pour the mixed margarita into glasses, garnish, and serve! If you love a bit of heat, a spicy margarita is a popular variation that’s easy to make! Simply muddle a few fresh jalapeño coins in your shaker or jar before adding the other ingredients. Finish it off by giving your glass a spicy rim using Tajín instead of margarita salt.
Just like a regular margarita, mezcal margaritas are cool and refreshing, making them perfect for patio sipping on warm weather days. Serve them with any kind of Mexican food from tacos to carnitas, enchiladas, nachos, and more!
If you love the taste of smoke, enjoy a mezcal margarita with our grilled mezcal chicken fajitas.
Did you make this?
We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal!
