Mezcal Tequila Margarita Recipe

1. Spicy Grapefruit Mezcal Margarita Recipe
2. Mezcal Lime Margarita
3. Mezcal Beet Margarita (the Red Alert)
4. Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita • Spicy And Smoky! • A Farmgirl's Dabbles
5. Spooky Smoked Margaritas

Are you familiar with the stuff?! If not, don’t worry, you’re in good company with many of my friends who have given me blank stares when I tell them about my new obsession with mezcal margaritas. But now that you’re hearing about it, you’ve 

To track some down soon. Because after a solid decade or so of calling margaritas (with tequila) my favorite drink — which will forever and always be my first cocktail love — I have to confess that my affections are quickly being won over by margaritas made with tequila’s smoky, spicy cousin.

The “cousin” of tequila. It’s made from the same blue agave plant in the “Tequila” region of Mexico, and is usually produced in Oaxaca. But while tequila’s agave is usually baked in stone ovens, mezcal’s agave is buried in pits with hot rocks and smoked. And thus, the flavor is similar to tequila, but totally different. I like to think of it as the “scotch” of the tequila world. It’s smoky, it’s earthy, and it’s 

Spicy Grapefruit Mezcal Margarita Recipe

I’ve slowly been falling in love with mezcal cocktails over the past few years. But it wasn’t until Kathryne and I were in Austin last February that I tried a sip of my first mezcal 

And let me be clear — I was skeptical going into it. Tequila margaritas have always been my jam, and I was reluctant to mess with a good thing. But let’s just say…

I have learned since then that many people do not share my affinity for smoky flavors in food (i.e. salsas) or drinks (i.e. scotch and mezcal). If that’s you, then I’d probably just stick with tequila. But if you happen to fall in Camp Smoky — or even if you might like to try a 

Smoky & Spicy Mezcal Margarita Recipe With Jalapeno

I finally bought my first bottle of mezcal (in the checkout of World Market, of all places) last month, and Barclay and I made our first batch the following night. I basically just took my go-to classic margarita recipe (made with tequila, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur and a hint of agave nectar) and subbed in mezcal in place of the tequila. And the result??

A fan. Annnnd I have continued to be a fan in the multiple batches that we have tried since. It’s like a scotch-y margarita! The tart lime juice and sweet agave pair absolutely 

With the smoky, rich mezcal. All of those made all the better, of course, with some nice chunky salt around the rim. The drink definitely feels much stronger, and made me want to sip it much more slowly (like scotch) than, um, “drink” it down as I’m occasionally tempted to do with tequila. (Which was a good thing!)  But I absolutely loved it.

Mezcal Grapefruit Cocktail • The Wicked Noodle

I will say that Barclay was more a fan of the half-tequila, half-mezcal version of this drink. So if you like a little less smoky — or if you’d like to stretch that bottle of mezcal a little further (since it’s definitely pricier than tequila) — that’s another great option too. And probably a good place to start either way if you’re new to mezcal.Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita: A smoky mezcal is infused with fresh jalapeno for a bold and spicy cocktail, all in a chili salt rimmed glass!

Anybody who knows me well knows how I appreciate a good margarita. No cloying mixes (although I’d never turn one down if I were, say, stranded on a deserted island…) or fake flavorings. Just give me pure lime juice, fresh and tart, alongside the unique flavor of tequila.

This Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita is not a cocktail for the faint of heart or even occasional margarita drinker. If you prefer your margaritas on the weak side, super sweet, or blended, this may not be the choice for you. Just being super candid here.

Mezcal Lime Margarita

But if you enjoy challenging your taste buds every now and then, and are up for a new and exciting experience, I beg you to give this margarita a try.

This kicked-up cocktail experience starts by infusing mezcal with fresh jalapeno. I simply pour two cups of mezcal into awide mouth pint jar, add a few slices of fresh jalapeno, and let it infuse overnight in the refrigerator. Super easy.

In other words…all mezcals come from any variety of agave, but tequila must come from only the blue agave plant and must be made in specific regions of Mexico.

Mezcal Beet Margarita (the Red Alert)

Another difference between tequila and mezcal is in how they are distilled. Tequilais typically produced by steaming the agave inside industrial ovens, and is then distilled two to three times in copper pots. To obtain that signature smokiness in a mezcal, the agave is cooked inside earthen pits lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal, and then distilled in clay pots.

I like to create a special chili salt rim for the glass of this drink. It’s a course, flavor-forward mixture of kosher salt, chili powder, chipotle powder, and black pepper. I hope it’s obvious how this rim adds even more boldness to this beverage.

A simple, traditional rim of coarse salt would be just fine for this margarita as well. (But pleeeeease try this chili salt rim!!)

Spicy Pineapple Mezcal Margarita 🌶
— Join Jules

Then it’s simply a matter of measuring out the jalapeno-infused mezcal, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a few other ingredients into your prepared glass.

For just a touch of sweetness, I prefer honey over my usual simple syrup mixture (equal parts sugar dissolved in equal parts water) in this particular margarita. I think the honey goes so nicely with the smokiness of the mezcal.

But the thickened quality of honey takes just a bit more effort to incorporate fully into the rest of the liquids. That’s where thismini whiskcomes in super handy. (It’s also great for whisking vinaigrettes and so many other concoctions!)

Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita • Spicy And Smoky! • A Farmgirl's Dabbles

For a more adventurous smoky flavor in your margarita, I recommend seeking out the Sombra brand of mezcal. I purchased a different brand that was recommended to me first, and while I liked it, it wasn’t delivering the audacious smokiness I was craving.

And many roads led me to Sombra. For this particular margarita, it is the only brand I will use. If you have a favorite mezcal, please share it with me in the comments.

I am so excited for you to give this margarita a try, and curious to know your thoughts on it. Please do get back to me if you stir one up!

Spooky Smoked Margaritas

And if you’re looking for a less bold margarita, yet still margarita-delicious, I have a few more standard flavored margarita recipes to share with you:

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.