21 Mezcal Cocktails to Drink, Because the Spirit Is More Popular Than Ever
If you’ve been noticing mezcal on menus everywhere, you’re not just imagining things—the spirit is more popular than ever, with production up 10 percent from 2019 to 2020. Derived from the Nahuatl word for “oven-cooked agave plant,” mezcal is defined as an agave-based liquor, and while it’s best known stateside for its smokiness, there are a ton of varieties out there that range from earthy to fruity to peppery. (And for the record, it’s not tequila.) Read on for our favorite mezcal cocktails to drink at home, including picks for margarita lovers and Bloody Maria stans alike.
RELATED: What Is Mezcal? (Hint: It’s *Not* a Type of Tequila)
1. Guava Mezcal Mule
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook
Sweet, spicy and oh so refreshing. If you want to tame the bite of the ginger beer, add a bit more guava juice, or use ginger ale instead.
2. Xantolo Cocktail
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
Buckle up, friends: This simple sipper has a sneaky kick. Here, a duo of mezcal and tequila meets fresh lime juice and chipotle-pineapple syrup.
3. Bloody Mango Cocktail
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Love Bloody Marys? If so, this tropical twist on the bev deserves a spot at Sunday brunch. Substitute the vodka with your favorite mezcal for a hint of smoke.
4. Mezcal Aperol Spritz
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, no cook, special occasion-worthy
Complete with sliced blood oranges and strawberries for garnish. Go the extra mile by squeezing your own orange juice (we suggest cara cara oranges for extra sweetness).
5. Mezcalita
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Fresh citrus juices cut through the intensity of the mezcal in this refreshing sipper. Finish the drink with a few dashes of orange bitters and a generous Tajín rim.
6. Spicy Paloma
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
Bitter, acidic grapefruit juice + homemade jalapeño simple syrup = a match made in sour-spicy heaven. The bubbles from the grapefruit spritzer make it ten times as revitalizing.
7. Lemony-Lime Island Mango Mezcal Breeze
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Don’t let the combo of silver tequila and mezcal intimidate you. Mango juice sweetens the libation just enough to soften its booziness.
8. La Cura
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes
Think mezcal margarita meets the penicillin, a traditional whiskey drink made with ginger, honey and lemon. Make the honey-ginger syrup ahead so you can mix one on the fly later on.
9. Hibiscus Berry Mezcal Ginger Margarita
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
The three-ingredient syrup is the key to this cocktail. Raspberries and hibiscus tea leaves are boiled and mashed to extract their tart flavor and vibrant color.
10. Smoky Watermelon Lemon Margarita
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Take your pick of basil or mint for this summer stunner—both offer the optimal dose of herby flavor. Prepare the watermelon juice in advance, plus the chipotle-lemon salt while you’re at it.
11. Charred Grapefruit and Mezcal Paloma Sour
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
This elegant drink is so impressive, down to the foamy egg white. Use the open flame of your stove, a broiler or a kitchen torch to char the grapefruit. Its smokiness will pair beautifully with that of the mezcal.
12. Jugo Antigripal
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
You can also call this a ginger-basil mezcal toddy. Instead of standard lemon, this rendition leans on fresh lime juice for acidity.
13. Mezcal Negroni
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
We love gin just as much as the next negroni stan, but you’d be surprised what a great substitute mezcal makes. Crown each glass with a dehydrated orange wheel or a twist of orange peel.
14. Mezcal Margaritas
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
It contains all the essentials of the O.G., only mezcal is used instead of tequila. Take your pick of traditional agave, simple syrup, honey or maple syrup to sweeten the bev.
15. Smoked Strawberry Mezcal Margaritas
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Smoked strawberry juice is the secret to this sophisticated sipper’s flavor. Char the fruit on a grill pan, in foil on the stovetop or under the broiler, then blend and strain it into puree.
16. The Black Widow Smash
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
This blackberry-rosemary libation is destined for your next fall get-together (or a Halloween party). Tequila or mezcal can be used interchangeably here.
17. Charred Mango Ancho Mezcal Margarita
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
It’s just the starter for an unforgettable backyard barbecue. Infuse the tequila with toasted ancho chiles at least an hour before your guests arrive.
18. Paloma
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
If you prefer your palomas without spicy peppers and shaken egg white, stick to this classic recipe—just swap mezcal in for tequila.
19. Smoky Carrot Mezcal Margaritas
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Trust us: Don’t knock a carrot cocktail ’til you try it. Blend them into juice yourself and reserve the carrot greens for an unexpected garnish.
20. The Grave Digger
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
Bourbon may be your go-to when it comes to apple cider cocktails, but a distinctly smoky mezcal complements the fall fave seamlessly too. Bonus points for lighting the rosemary sprigs for a fancy finishing touch.
21. Oaxacan Hot Toddy
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Best served by a roaring fire. The drink itself is infused with cayenne, but the dried Thai chile floater really seals the deal.
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Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
