Craving a margarita with a smoky twist? Our mezcal margarita recipe delivers a perfect balance of citrus, sweetness, and the distinctive smoky flavor that only mezcal can provide. It’s the perfect upgrade for your cocktail recipes.

Handing holding a mezcal cocktail in a coupe glass.

Looking for a classic margarita with a smoky flavor?

Then you have to try this mezcal margarita! This margarita recipe uses mezcal instead of traditional tequila for a smoky twist.

This mezcal margarita recipe is super similar to our smoked mezcal margarita , but we keep things simple by ditching the homemade pineapple syrup. But don’t worry—this cocktail is anything but boring. It’s still just as fresh as a cranberry margarita or blueberry margarita, but with the unique twist from the smoky mezcal and spicy salt rim.

🎥 Watch: How to make a mezcal margarita cocktail

Lime twist on a cocktail pick over a mezcal margarita drink.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

SMOKY – Instead of regular tequila, this cocktail recipe uses mezcal, a spirit made from smoking agave in a pit in the earth. The hint of smokiness in this cocktail is perfect for those who want a depth of flavor.
BALANCED – You get everything you love about a basic margarita but with a smoky kick. The citrus flavors from the triple sec, the sweetness of the agave, the tanginess from the lime, and the smokiness from the mezcal produces the perfect balance of complex flavors that’s anything but ordinary.

What You Need to Make a Mezcal Margarita

Mezcal – This smoky alcohol is the key to achieving the perfect mezcal margarita. Keep in mind that the amount of smokiness depends on the distiller. We love Kimo Sabe for this recipe.
Cointreau triple sec – This orange liqueur gives a margarita that iconic traditional taste we all know and love. Cointreau, specifically, has a higher alcohol content than other orange liqueurs. However, you can use another type of orange liqueur if you like. Grand Marnier is a great option if you want a depth of flavor.
Lime juice – Gives a tart flavor and that classic margarita feel. Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor.
Agave syrup – Adds a little touch of sweetness to balance out the smokiness. You could also use regular simple syrup if you like.
Lime zest, for rim
Coarse salt, for rim
Tajin spice, for rim – This Mexican spice adds a nice kick to the rim. If you can’t find it, you can use chili powder instead.

How to Make a Mezcal Margarita

Add coarse salt and lime zest to a shallow bowl or plate. Run a lime wedge on the rim of the glass and dip into the salt mixture. Set aside.
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
Fill a glass with ice and strain the cocktail over ice.
Garnish with a slice of fresh lime.

Add mezcal
Add agave
Add fresh lime juice.

Expert Recipe Tips

If you want to reduce the alcohol content, you can swap the triple sec for a splash of orange juice instead.
Chill your margarita glasses for at least 30 minutes, so they’re nice and cold.
For even more smoky goodness, you can smoke wood chips and place the glass upside down to trap the smoke. Leave it for at least 30 seconds to allow the smoke to infuse the glass. While the glass is absorbing the smoke, whip up the margarita and then pour it into the smoky glass when it’s done.

Side shot showing a coupe glass filled with an ice cold margarita made with mezcal.

What Is a Mezcal Margarita?

Let’s first break down the major differences between mezcal and tequila. Tequila is a type of mezcal made from the blue agave plant. Mezcal, on the other hand, is a distilled spirit made from a variety of agave species. The key difference between tequila and mezcal lies in their production methods. Tequila is made when agave hearts are steamed in industrial ovens, whereas mezcal production occurs when agave hearts are roasted in underground pits dug into the earth. Mezcal’s smoky aroma is what makes this margarita stand out against a traditional margarita.

While the mezcal produces a smoky flavor in this recipe, the rest of the ingredients are traditional for a basic margarita. One slight variation is the spicy salted rim made with lime zest, salt, and tajin.

How to Serve a Mezcal Margarita

Serve these margaritas in a margarita or rocks glass during backyard bbqs, taco night, or poolside on a hot summer day.

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Raise your glass to this smoky spin on a regular margarita! The mezcal margarita is the perfect drink for those who dare to break away from the traditional and embrace the smoky unknown (even though we guarantee this cocktail is going tobe your new favorite). If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader!