Mezcal Margarita
Ingredients
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- coarse kosher salt – for rimming the glass
- lime wedge – for rimming the glass
- 2 ounces mezcal
- 1 ounces lime juice – freshly squeezed (~0.5 medium limes)
- 3/4 ounces orange liqueur
- 1/4 ounces agave syrup
- ice – for shaking
- ice – for serving
- lime wheel – for serving
Instructions
1. Spread the coarse kosher salt on a small plate.
2. Run the lime wedge around half the rim of a rocks glass, then dip that side into the salt to create a half-rim; set the glass aside.
3. In a cocktail shaker, combine the mezcal, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave syrup.
4. Add the ice for shaking to the shaker and shake hard until very cold, 10–15 seconds, until the shaker feels frosty.
5. Add the ice for serving to the prepared glass.
6. Strain the cocktail into the glass.
7. Garnish with the lime wheel and serve immediately.
A mezcal margarita is a bright, smoky take on the classic Mexican sour, balancing roasted agave depth with tangy lime and a touch of orange sweetness. The salt rim heightens citrus and tempers bitterness, while agave syrup rounds the edges without making the drink heavy. Served on the rocks, it is crisp and refreshing, with an aromatic, campfire-like finish unique to mezcal.
While the margarita’s exact origin is debated along the Mexico–U.S. border in the mid-20th century, the template of spirit, citrus, and orange liqueur is firmly Mexican in spirit and technique. Mezcal, a centuries-old agave spirit predating tequila, brings regional character from its traditional roasting and artisanal production. The mezcal margarita emerged as a modern evolution, gaining popularity as mezcal became globally appreciated, yet it remains rooted in the classic margarita structure.