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Smoky, citrusy, and super smooth – this mezcal margarita is made with the freshest of ingredients and is the perfect cocktail for summer BBQs and celebrations alike!
Mezcal Margarita Recipe
This recipe takes a slight step off the classic path with the use of mezcal and orange juice in lieu of tequila and triple sec. The mezcal adds just the right amount of smoky flavor, and the fresh citrus juices, plus a touch of sweetness from the agave, make for a blended balance of fun flavors. This is such a fun beverage for grilling season and pairs beautifully with the charred flavors of summer!
What is a Mezcal Margarita?
A mezcal margarita is a twist on the classic margarita made with mezcal, a smoky distilled liquor, in place of the traditional tequila.
Mezcal Margarita Recipe Ingredients
To make this easy mezcal margarita, here’s what you’ll need:
For 2 servings:
- ½ cup of mezcal
- ¼ cup of fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup of fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon of agave
- Lime wedges, for garnish
- Smoky sea salt, for garnish
To scale up, follow these ratios:
- 2 parts mezcal
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- 1 part fresh orange juice
- ¼ part agave
Ingredient Modifications
This recipe is simple and delicious as written, but below are some ideas of how you can modify ingredients:
- Make a mocktail. To make a non-alcoholic version of this cocktail, substitute the mezcal with a ½ cup of Seedlip Spice 94 non-alcoholic spirit.
- Use triple sec. If you are a fan of the classic triple sec flavor and still want the smoke, sub out the orange juice for triple sec at a 1:1 ratio.
Supplies Needed to Make this Recipe
- Cocktail Shaker -or-
- Mason Jar -or-
- Pitcher
How to Make a Mezcal Margarita
The process to make this margarita is really easy! Here’s how you’ll do it:
- Add ingredients. Measure and add all your ingredients to a mason jar, shaker, or pitcher (depending on how many margaritas you are making).
- Shake. Shake or stir to combine. You can chill your margarita mixture in the fridge for a couple hours or serve immediately.
- Garnish your glass (optional). Use a lime wedge or some of the margarita mix to coat the rim of your glass, then dip your glass in smoky sea salt to garnish the rim.
- Add ice. Add ice to your glass, being careful not to knock the salt off your glass.
- Pour and enjoy. Pour your margarita over the ice, sip, and enjoy!
Frozen Mezcal Margarita
You can also make a frozen margarita if you want something extra cool and refreshing. Here are a couple of options:
- Use ice. For a quick frozen mezcal margarita, add a few scoops of ice to a blender with your margarita mix and blend on high until incorporated.
- Freeze the citrus. If you are planning in advance and want a creamier, slushier frozen marg, freeze your lime and orange juice in an ice cube tray. Then, add the frozen juices plus the mezcal and agave to a blender and blend on high until smooth.
What’s the difference between a frozen margarita and on the rocks margarita?
A frozen margarita is made by blending the margarita mix with ice or frozen ingredients, while “on the rocks” margaritas are simply the liquid margarita mix served over ice.
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Margarita with Mezcal Frequently Asked Questions
There are a couple of distinct differences between tequila and mezcal, which really come down to what type of agave plant they’re made from and where (and how) they are produced. Both are made from agave, but mezcal can be made from over 30 species of the plant, while tequila is made specifically from the Weber blue agave plant. The agave plants used for mezcal are often roasted underground in pits before distilling, which gives the inherent smoky flavor. The agave plant used for tequila is processed by steaming in ovens.
Mezcal has a rich, bold, smoky flavor while tequila tends to be smoother and a little sweeter.
Mezcal has a savory, smoky flavor that is rich and full on the tongue.
It’s hard to say! While the flavor of mezcal may be more predominant than that of tequila, they both range from about 35-55% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it really depends on which type of mezcal or tequila you want to compare.
Mezcal makes for a great substitute for tequila in margaritas if you want to add a smoky note to the drink.
The answer to this may depend on who you ask and what their preference is, but generally speaking, a silver or blanco tequila is a great option for margaritas. Silver or blanco tequilas are young, mild-tasting tequilas that mix well into a variety of flavor profiles.
Ingredients
For 2 servings:
- 1/2 cup mezcal
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon agave
- lime wedges, for garnish
- smoky sea salt, for garnish
To scale up, follow these ratios:
- 2 parts mezcal
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- 1 part fresh orange juice
- 1/4 part agave
Instructions
- Add all your ingredients to a mason jar, shaker, or pitcher (depending on how many margaritas you are making).
- Shake or stir to combine, then chill the margarita mixture in the fridge for a couple hours or serve immediately.
- Use a lime wedge or some of the margarita mix to coat the rim of the glass, then dip the glass in smoky sea salt to garnish the rim.
- Add ice to the glass, careful not to knock off the salt.
- Pour the margarita over ice, sip, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Recipe Notes
- ½ cup Seedlip Spice 94 non-alcoholic spirit
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon agave
- For a quick frozen mezcal margarita, add a few scoops of ice to a blender with your margarita mix and blend on high until incorporated.
- If you are planning in advance and want a creamier, slushier frozen marg, freeze your lime and orange juice in an ice cube tray. Then, add the frozen juices plus the mezcal and agave to a blender and blend on high until smooth.
Christine says
Can I substitute simple syrup or honey or anything else for agave?
Melissa Guevara says
Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite sweetener and add as much or as little as you like depending on your preference. -Melissa