Tequila has long been a favorite among spirits enthusiasts around the world, but Mezcal is its Mexican cousin making a big break onto the world stage.
Both tequila and mezcal are made from agave. Actually, tequila is a specific type of mezcal made from the Weber blue agave plant. Mezcal in its whole range of styles is made from a variety of agave plants, and therefore it can have a range of flavors in its distilled form.
See also: 12 Tequila and Mezcal Cocktail Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
Known and beloved for its smokiness, mezcal is quite the many-talented beverage, and we’ve got a list of varied cocktail recipes below to prove it. Experiment and find your favorite mezcal profile, then enjoy to the fullest.
Desolas Mezcal is unique on the market, coming not from Oaxaca but from San Luis Potosi. It's made from 100 percent Salmiana Agave, known in the region as the "green giant" due to its size. This cocktail is bright with citrus flavors and definitely gets the job done.
Ingredients:
Directions: Combine Desolas Mezcal with fresh tangerine juice, a touch of Campari, lime juice and agave, and top with premium tonic water
Another bright sip with character, this cocktail comes from the folks at Mezcal UNIÓN, putting a flirty twist on the classic paloma.
Ingredients:
Directions: Add ingredients into a highball or large rocks glass, add ice and top with cold fever tree sparkling grapefruit.
This is the cocktail that knocks you off your feet and gets you going. From Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston’s Dos Hombres mezcal company, Oaxaca Coffee is the perfect brew for an energized evening.
Ingredients:
Directions: Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube Garnish with expressed orange peel. Enjoy!
From Richard Sandoval Hospitality, this refreshing spritz is unlike most mezcal cocktails. It’s bright, light and sure to please any palate, so give it a try.
Ingredients:
Directions: Apply all ingredients to Shaker Tin with ice. Shake well and strain into wine glass. Add a half scoop of ice and top off with 4 oz of sparkling wine. Garnish with Marigold Petals.
Learn more about mezcal in this interview with Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston about their Dos Hombres brand, and explore even more celeb-fronted tequila and mezcal brand on our list of favorites.
Photography by: Courtesy of Desoles mezcal; Courtesy of Mezcal Union; Courtesy of Dos Hombres; Courtesy ofRichard Sandoval Hospitality
