Ingredient
Mezcal
A smoky agave spirit — Tequila's rougher Mexican cousin, surprisingly at home in a warmed winter cocktail with citrus and honey.
Flavour profile
Mezcal is the smoky agave spirit that gives winter cocktails an unexpected dimension. Where rum tastes of caramel and bourbon of vanilla, mezcal brings actual woodfire — which sounds aggressive on paper but works beautifully once warmed with honey and citrus. A simple joven mezcal is the right level of expense; save the rarer bottles for sipping.
Recipes featuring mezcal
Modern Winter Serves
Mezcal Warmer
Smoky mezcal meets warm orange, agave and a whisper of chilli in this short, spirit-forward winter cocktail with a long, lingering finish.