Division Bell recipe
A smoky, bittersweet modern classic born from mezcal and Aperol.
Method: Shake and strain ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 1 oz Mezcal
- 3/4 oz Aperol
- 1/4 oz Maraschino liqueur
- 3/4 oz Fresh lime juice
How to make a Division Bell
- Chill a coupe glass in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Combine the mezcal, Aperol, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously for 10 to 12 seconds.
- Double strain the liquid into the chilled coupe glass.
- Express the oils from a grapefruit peel over the surface of the drink and garnish.
Garnish
Grapefruit twist
Pro tip
Adjust the maraschino liqueur between a quarter and half ounce depending on your preferred level of cherry-nut sweetness to balance the smoky agave.
History of the Division Bell
Created in 2009 by bartender Phil Ward at Mayahuel in New York City, the Division Bell is a celebrated modern classic riff on the Last Word formula. Named after the 1994 Pink Floyd album, the drink substitutes smoky mezcal for gin and bittersweet Aperol for green Chartreuse, creating an entirely distinct profile while maintaining structural balance.
Flavour profile
Smoky, Bittersweet, Citrusy, Complex
Variations
- Oaxacan Last Word — Substitutes Green Chartreuse and lime for the original Last Word proportions with mezcal and maraschino.
- Division Bell No. 2 — Swaps Aperol for Campari for a deeper, more robust bitter backbone.
- Veracruz Bell — Replaces lime juice with fresh grapefruit juice for a brighter, more tropical acidity.
Practise making the Division Bell in the free Virtual Bar game.