Michelada recipe
A savory, spiced Mexican beer cocktail balanced with fresh lime and chili.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Highball glass ·
Time: 5 min ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (12 oz) Mexican lager (chilled, such as Modelo Especial)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce (classic savory depth)
- 3-4 dashes Mexican hot sauce (such as Cholula or Tapatío)
- 1 dash Maggi seasoning (or soy sauce)
- as needed chili-lime salt (for rimming the glass)
How to make a Michelada
- Rub a lime wedge along the rim of a chilled heavy-bottomed mug or tall glass, then roll the rim in chili-lime salt.
- Add the fresh lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and Maggi seasoning directly into the empty glass.
- If desired, add a few large ice cubes to the glass.
- Slowly pour the chilled Mexican lager into the glass, tilting slightly to preserve the effervescence.
- Gently stir from the bottom up to integrate the seasonings without flattening the beer, and garnish with a lime wheel.
Garnish
a lime wheel
Pro tip
Measure carefully, keep the dilution controlled, and serve Michelada as soon as it is cold and balanced.
History of the Michelada
The origins of the Michelada are debated across mid-20th-century Mexico. One popular account attributes the name to a man named Michel in a San Luis Potosí club who added lime and salt to his beer (mi chela helada - my cold beer), while others trace it to chela slang for beer combined with helada. Over decades, regional cantinas evolved the formula by incorporating savory sauces and spices.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Boozy, Bitter
Variations
- Chelada — A simpler preparation omitting the sauces, featuring just chilled beer, fresh lime juice, and a salted rim.
- Cubana — Incorporates clamato juice alongside the standard sauces for a richer, tomato-forward profile.
- Michelada con Camarón — Garnished with skewered spiced shrimp and cucumber spears, serving as both drink and snack.
Practise making the Michelada in the free Virtual Bar game.