Amazing Mezcal Margarita

Let the smoky flavours of mezcal shine through in this refreshing Mezcal Margarita cocktail recipe. With fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, and smoky mezcal, this Mezcalita cocktail is everything you love about a classic margarita with a uniquely bold twist.

It’s official. I’m mad about margaritas! As I write this latest post, there are currently SEVEN margarita recipes here on the blog. From a sensational Strawberry Margarita to the incredible tart and Spicy Pineapple Margarita, you’ll find a margarita recipe to suit your taste. It’s practically a fiesta of flavour!

Mezcal Margarita

Though there are several margarita recipes on the blog, this is the first mezcal margarita recipe I’m sharing with you. Everyone I’ve made it for says it is a flavour experience like no other. I know you’re going to love it as much as they do!

This recipe is surprisingly simple. It contains all the ingredients in the classic cocktail but is made with mezcal in place of the usual tequila. The mezcal gives this cocktail a unique smoky flavor you won’t soon forget.

If you enjoy cocktails with complex flavours but not the hassle of intricate recipes, this is the margarita recipe for you. Your guests will be as impressed as mine are, especially if you serve them with a side of tacos!

Be sure to have plenty of ice and fresh limes on hand because these Mezcalitas are refreshing and disappear quickly. One will never be enough, and three is just right. Kidding! This cocktail recipe is so simple, you can easily make in batches. Just scale up and make it in a pitcher for your thirsty guests.

Mezcal Margarita Ingredients

If you know how to make a classic margarita, you already know how to make a Mezcal Margarita. Besides the ingredients, you will need a jigger or measuring glass, a cocktail shaker (with strainer), and one (or two) 10 oz rocks glasses or margarita glasses. If you are feeling fancy, feel free to use a margarita glass.

• Mezcal
• Triple Sec
• Fresh Limes
• Agave Syrup
• Ice
• Coarse Salt or Sugar (optional)

When a cocktail recipe calls for Triple Sec, you can generally use another orange liqueur like Cointreau. However, some orange liqueurs (Curaçao or Grand Marnier) will not work because they contain colouring that will affect the appearance of the cocktail.

Fresh lime juice is best, but lemon juice can work in a pinch. Never use bottled lime juice in a cocktail as it doesn’t have the same flavour as fresh juice. Besides, you need limes for the garnish!

Agave syrup has a warm earthy sweetness that reinforces the agave in the mezcal. However, you can use honey syrup or regular simple syrup in place of agave syrup.

To make simple syrup or honey simple syrup, pour 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar (or honey) in a saucepan. Stir and heat the mixture on medium high heat until it simmers, and the sugar has dissolved. Cool to room temperature.

Finally, if you enjoy a rimmed margarita, you will need either coarse salt or sugar (or a mixture of both) to rim the glass.

I like my cocktails cold, so I always have plenty of ice on hand. Feel free to chill the glass in the freezer as you make the cocktail. Always strain a cocktail over fresh ice and discard the ice in the cocktail shaker to ensure best flavour and maximum chill.

What is Mezcal?

Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage produced in Mexico with a unique smoky flavour. Within Mexico, Within Mexico, primarily sipping spirit is regulated under Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM) regulations. There are many strict production guidelines to keep the product authentic.

To truly be called mezcal, the liquor must come from Mexican states that have certified mezcal agave growing areas with production facilities. The primary mezcal producing states are Oaxaca, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Michoacan, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.

Modern mezcal is divided into three categories:

1. Industrial Mezcal – made efficiently using all modern equipment
2. Artisanal Mezcal – agave is roasted in pit hearths or clay/brick ovens, milled using mallets, stone mills, or mechanical mills, fermented in animal skins or pits or tanks made with stone, clay, or wood and distilled twice in an alembic still (columnar stills prohibited).
3. Ancestral Mezcal – mezcal produced completely by traditional methods including wood or clay Filipino style stills.

The three above categories are further subdivided into six additional classes based on aging and storage method. These include unaged Blanco or Joven mezcal, Madurado en vidrio (aged 1 year or more in glass), Reposado (aged one year or less in wood), Añejo (aged more than a year in a large wooden vessel), Abocado (flavoured with other ingredients), and Destilado con (distilled with other ingredients).

What’s the difference between mezcal and tequila?

Mezcal can be made from around 30 certified species of agave plants while tequila is only made from blue agave.

Like tequila, mezcal is made from agave nectar, which is milled, fermented, then distilled. However, during the mezcal making process, the agave hearts are roasted prior to juicing which gives it the unique smoky flavour.

How to Make a Mezcal Margarita

Great cocktails always start with preparing the glass. In this case, I like to rub a little fresh lime juice around the edge of the glass, then roll the rim in coarse salt, sugar, a salt/sugar combination, or Tajin. Once the glass is rimmed, it’s time to make the cocktail.

Next, fill the cocktail shaker half full of ice and add 2 oz mezcal, 1 oz triple sec, 1 oz fresh lime juice, and 1 oz agave syrup (or simple syrup) to the shaker.

Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously until the shaker is well chilled and frosty, about 15 seconds.

Fill cocktail glass with fresh ice then strain the cocktail over the ice. Garnish with a lime wheel or lime wedge (optional).

NOTE: If you are new to mezcal, feel free to reduce the amount of mezcal by half and add 1 ounce of tequila. This adjustment will tone down the smoky notes while keeping the complexity. Or, if you prefer a classic margarita, use 2 ounces of tequila instead of the mezcal.

To make a pitcher of four Mezcal Margaritas, fill a 50 oz pitcher halfway with ice. Measure 8 ounces of mezcal, 4 ounces Triple Sec, 4 ounces, fresh lime juice, and 4 ounces of agave syrup into the pitcher. Rim and add fresh ice to four rocks glasses. Stir cocktail well and pour immediately into four prepared cocktail glasses.

Recipe Notes Tips and Tricks

• Mezcal has a smoky, earthy flavour—more intense than tequila. If you’re new to mezcal, try blending it with a bit of tequila for a milder taste.
• If you prefer a less sweet cocktail, reduce the agave syrup to ½ ounce.
• Fresh lime juice is best, but lemon juice can work in a pinch.
• For an extra-refreshing experience, chill your serving glass in the freezer before mixing your drink.
• For extra flavour, rub a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it into salt, sugar, or Tajín before pouring the drink.
• You can substitute Cointreau for Triple Sec if you want a smoother or richer orange flavour.
• If you don’t have agave syrup, simple syrup or honey (thinned with a little warm water) can be used instead, though it may slightly alter the flavour.
• To make a spicy Mezcal Margarita, add a few slices of fresh jalapeño or a dash of chili bitters before shaking.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill, the recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

If you make this Mezcal Margarita recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section or in a recipe rating. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe, please share your photos and tag me on Instagram. I hope you like this recipe!