A good mezcal cocktail lets the plant speak. Smoke, fruit or earth in the spirit don't need disguising; they need company that gives them shape.
Three principles
Choose the class on purpose. A blanco or joven shows the agave without wood in the way; a reposado or añejo brings another texture. Balance before you garnish. Acid, sweetness and dilution decide the drink more than any garnish. Measure. With high-proof spirits, a few millilitres change the result.
House recipes
Original We Love Mezcal recipes, currently being bar-tested. Quantities per drink.
Campo Abierto
- 45 ml joven mezcal
- 60 ml grapefruit juice
- 15 ml lime juice
- 10 ml agave syrup
- Pinch of salt · sparkling water
Shake the first four with ice, pour into a tall glass and top with sparkling water.
Raíz Amarga
- 30 ml joven mezcal
- 30 ml red Italian bitter
- 30 ml sweet vermouth
- Orange peel
Stir with ice, strain over one large cube and express the orange peel.
Barro Verde
- 45 ml joven mezcal
- 3 cucumber slices
- 20 ml lime juice
- 15 ml simple syrup
Muddle the cucumber, shake with the rest and ice, then double-strain into a chilled coupe.
Drink responsibly. For adults of legal drinking age.
- Arellano-Plaza, M., et al. (2022). Mezcal Production in Mexico: Between Tradition and Commercial Exploitation. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6. www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.832532/full