Welcome to my latest obsession: mezcal margaritas — specifically, smoked strawberry mezcal margaritas.
These drinks are smoky, tart, subtly sweet and pleasantly strong. The mezcal gives them character while the strawberries keep things fresh and bright.
After a late-night Jersey Shore relapse, I decided my life needed a little upgrade — and that upgrade came in cocktail form.
I’m a big fan of tequila, so transitioning to mezcal felt natural. Mezcal adds a smoky complexity that makes cocktails interesting without tasting like you’re drinking an ashtray. It’s smoky in a good way — nuanced and balanced.
Instead of blending the strawberries into a thick puree, I char the berries and puree them with a bit of water, then press the puree through a fine mesh to extract a light, fragrant juice. The result is a delicate strawberry flavor that won’t overpower the mezcal — not too sweet, just fresh.
A charred strawberry garnish finishes it off and looks gorgeous on the glass.
This twist on a classic margarita is fun and distinct enough to feel like something new while still respecting the original. It’s an upgrade I can get behind.
Smoked Strawberry Mezcal Margaritas
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Ingredients
Smoked strawberries
- 1 cup strawberries hulled and sliced
Mezcal margarita
- 1 1/2 ounces Tequila
- 1 ounce Mezcal
- 1 ounce Grand Marnier
- 2 ounces smoked strawberry juice
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 2 ounce simple syrup
- salt for rim
- lime wedges for garnish
- strawberries for garnish
Instructions
Smoky strawberry juice
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To smoke the strawberries, char them on a grill, under a broiler, or over a gas stovetop flame. You want some charring so the fruit picks up that smoky flavor.
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Once charred, blend the berries with a few tablespoons of water to help them liquefy. You can use the puree, but I prefer pressing it through a fine mesh sieve and using only the juice for a lighter finish.
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This yields extra juice that keeps in the refrigerator for about a week — enough for roughly four margaritas.
Mezcal margarita
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Start by making one serving and taste. Adjust the tequila, mezcal, lime or syrup to suit your preference — some like it brighter, some prefer it sweeter.
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Rim a glass with lime and dip in coarse salt. Fill the glass with a few ice cubes or crushed ice.
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In a shaker with ice, combine tequila, mezcal, Grand Marnier, smoked strawberry juice, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds, then strain over the ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and a charred strawberry.
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I like to char the strawberries used for garnish as well — quick on the grill or over a burner is perfect.
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Simple syrup: simmer equal parts water and sugar (for example, 1/2 cup each) until the sugar dissolves. Cool completely before storing in the fridge.
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Serve with chips and guacamole and enjoy.