Mezcal Cosmo recipe

Name: Mezcal Cosmo
Prep time: 4 min
Total time: 4 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1.5 oz Mezcal; 0.75 oz Cointreau; 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice; 0.5 oz Cranberry Juice

A smoky, citrus-led Cosmopolitan that trades vodka's clean frame for mezcal.

Method: Shake · Glass: Coupe glass (chilled) · Time: 4 min · Difficulty: Intermediate · Family: The Sidecar Family

Ingredients

1.5 oz Mezcal (an espadín style with balanced smoke)
0.75 oz Cointreau
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz Cranberry Juice (100% cranberry, not cranberry cocktail)

How to make a Mezcal Cosmo

Chill a coupe glass while you prepare the shaker.
Add mezcal, Cointreau, lime juice and cranberry juice to a shaker with ice.
Shake hard for 10-12 seconds until the drink is very cold.
Double strain into the chilled coupe.
Express an orange peel over the surface, then garnish lightly.

Garnish

Expressed orange peel and a single cranberry, optional.

Pro tip

Choose a mezcal with a clean, citrus-friendly smoke. A very earthy or intensely smoky bottle can overwhelm the cranberry and make the drink taste heavy rather than bright.

History of the Mezcal Cosmo

The Mezcal Cosmo is a modern spirit swap built on the Cosmopolitan's balanced sour structure. Mezcal brings roasted agave and smoke, while Cointreau, lime and cranberry retain the drink's citrus-and-berry lift.

Flavour profile

Smoky, Tart, Citrus, Berry

Variations

Cosmopolitan — Use citrus vodka for the original clean, tart structure
White Cosmopolitan — Use white cranberry and elderflower for a pale floral riff

Practise making the Mezcal Cosmo in the free Virtual Bar game.