A mezcalita is a fun, fresh, and fruity twist on a traditional margarita recipe. It is sweet, smoky, and spicy all at once which makes for a very flavorful and easy sip. This bright, fruity drink is served with a spicy rim and is a fun twist for taco night and perfect to serve for Cinco de Mayo!
If you are interested in starting to explore mezcal cocktails, this drink is a great place to start as the fruit juices sweeten and balance the smoky flavor of mezcal perfectly.
Jump to:
Mezcalita versus Margarita
A margarita is a popular classic cocktail made with a tequila base and citrus juice, although just about anything can be a margarita these days. The mezcalita is not just mezcal margarita. It also uses less base spirit and plenty more fresh citrus juice to round out the deep and complex flavor of mezcal.
Just like tequila, mezcal is made in Mexico from agave plants, but there are several key differences between these two liquors. Mezcal is made using many different varieties of agave plants and instead of the agave hearts being steamed in the cooking process, they are roasted in a pit using lava rocks.
Ingredient Notes
A classic Margarita is made with Blanco tequila, lime, agave, and orange liqueur. This creates a more mellow lime flavor, whereas the Mezcalita has a bolder orange flavor from fresh orange juice.
- Mezcal - You can use any Mezcal that you like best for this cocktail. I recommend a more mild mezcal such as lllegal Joven, or Burrito Fiestero to create a well-balanced drink.
- Orange juice - Freshly squeezed is best but you could also use a store-bought version.
- Fresh Lime juice - Balances and brightens this tasty drink. I always recommend using freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.
- Orange liqueur - You will need a splash of your favorite orange liqueur for this recipe. We like to use Triple Sec!
- Orange bitters (optional). This adds more complexity and orange flavor to the cocktail, but it will also be delicious without any so that is why it is an optional addition.
How to serve Mezcalitas
- GARNISH: The classic garnish for a Mezcalita is a lime wedge or a lime wheel. This gives the drink a delicious boost in flavor and a pretty pop of color. If you don't have any fresh limes, you could also add an orange slice or some slices of jalapeño.
- RIM: A Mezcalita should also always be served with a spicy salted rim. You can use a salt and chili powder mixture, or use Tajin powder. Tajin is zingy Mexican salt made of chili powders, salt and citric acid. You should be able to find it in the Hispanic aisle of your grocery store or you can order it online.
- ICE: This drink is best served over ice. It is essential that a Mezcalita is kept chilled so once the cocktail is shaken with ice it should then be served in a cocktail glass that is filled with ice cubes too.
How to Make a Mezcalita
This mezcal cocktail is easy to make and doesn't require a lot of time. You can also make a big batch of the recipe to serve a crowd or to enjoy all night long!
- STEP ONE: Dip the rim of your serving glass in lime juice or run a lime wedge around its edge.
- STEP TWO: Pour some Tajin powder onto a small plate. Then dip your prepared glass into the Tajin powder making sure the rim of the glass is well coated.
- STEP THREE: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cocktail ingredients and shake together for 30 seconds.
- STEP FOUR: Strain the cocktail mixture into your prepared glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy immediately.
Pitcher Option
If you are having a large party, you can prepare a large batch of Mezcalitas in advance and rim the glasses ahead of time!
- Cocktail: Mix together a large batch of the cocktail mixture in a big pitcher and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Simply scale up the amounts of each ingredient in the recipe proportionally by the number of drinks you will be making.
- Glasses: Rim the glasses as directed in the recipe, and then store them in a large airtight container until you are ready to serve.
Expert Tips
- You can make an extra spicy version of this cocktail by muddling in a few slices of fresh Jalapeño pepper in the cocktail shaker before mixing the cocktail together.
- The orange cocktail bitters and spicy rim add some extra flavor to the cocktail but are both optional and the drink can be enjoyed without either.
- You can make different fruit variations of this drink by replacing the orange juice in the recipe with freshly pureed watermelon or pineapple juice.
- If you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add a dash of agave syrup or simple syrup to the recipe.
More cocktails to consider:
If you have tried this recipe, we would love it if you leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and comment below!
Recipe
Mezcalita
Equipment
- Strainer
Ingredients
- Lime Wedge for garnish
- Tajin seasoning for rim
- 1 ½ ounce Mezcal
- 2 ounces Orange Juice
- 1 ounce Lime Juice
- ½ ounce Triple Sec
- 2 - 4 dashes Orange Bitters optional
- Ice Cubes
Instructions
- Dip the rim of your serving glass in lime juice or run a lime wedge around its edge.Lime Wedge
- Pour some Tajin powder onto a small plate. Then dip your prepared glass into the Tajin powder making sure the rim of the glass is well coated.Tajin seasoning
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the mezcal, orange juice, lime juice, orange liqueur and bitters. Shake together for 30 seconds.1 ½ ounce Mezcal, 2 ounces Orange Juice, 1 ounce Lime Juice, ½ ounce Triple Sec, 2 - 4 dashes Orange Bitters, Ice Cubes
- Strain the cocktail mixture into your prepared glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy immediately.Ice Cubes, Lime Wedge
Notes
-
- You can make an extra spicy version of this cocktail by muddling in a few slices of fresh Jalapeño pepper in the cocktail shaker before mixing the cocktail together.
-
- The orange cocktail bitters and spicy rim add some extra flavor to the cocktail but are both optional and the drink can be enjoyed without either.
-
- You can make different fruit variations of this drink by replacing the orange juice in the recipe with freshly pureed watermelon or pineapple juice.
-
- If you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add a dash of agave syrup or simple syrup to the recipe.
Leave a Comment