About this recipe
This spicy Mezcal Cocktail is the perfect mix of smoky and sweet, with a little bit of spice to boot. Made with mezcal, lime juice, jalapeño simple syrup, and soda, it’s sure to become your new favorite drink! If you love bold flavors, try my watermelon margarita next — it also uses jalapeño simple syrup for a sweet-spicy kick.
Why You’ll Love This Spicy Mezcal Cocktail
• Smoky, spicy, and refreshing — such a good flavor mix
• Only 4 main ingredients
• Ready in under 5 minutes
• Easy to customize (more sweet, more spicy, more smoky)
• Naturally gluten-free and doesn’t require fancy bartending gear
Ingredients
- Mezcal. Use a joven mezcal made from espadín for a clean, smoky flavor that blends beautifully with lime. Choose your favorite brand—the drink works with any good-quality mezcal.
- Jalapeño simple syrup. This is what brings the heat. Three slices give a mild kick; use more if you want it spicier. Let it cool completely before using.
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed, is always best.
- Sparkling water
Use Topo Chico, mineral water, or any unsweetened sparkling water for a crisp finish.
How to make the spicy mezcal cocktail
- Add mezcal, lime juice, and jalapeño simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake for 10 seconds until cold.
- Pour into a glass with a salted (or tajín) rim.
- Add fresh ice and top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with thin jalapeño slices or a lime wheel.
What is mezcal?
Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant, typically found in the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Durango, Guerrero, and Zacatecas. Mezcal can be made from any type of agave, but most mezcales are made from the espadín agave.
Tequila is a mezcal, but not all mezcales are tequilas. Tequila is made from the blue agave plant, while mezcal can be made from any agave.
Tequila is also required to be made in certain regions of Mexico, while mezcal can be made anywhere in the country. Finally, tequila must be aged in oak barrels for at least two months, while mezcal does not have to be aged.
Variations
- Extra smoky: Add a splash of mezcal pechuga or a smoky joven variety.
- Spicy grapefruit mezcal cocktail: Swap half the lime juice for fresh grapefruit juice.
- Tajín rim: Perfect with the spicy-citrus combo.
- Less sweet: Reduce the syrup to ½ ounce.
Home-Cook Tips
- If the drink is too spicy, strain out the jalapeño slices earlier when making the syrup.
- If the drink tastes flat, add a pinch of kosher salt—it brightens the citrus.
- For party prep, make the jalapeño syrup up to 10 days ahead and keep it refrigerated.
- See all cocktails/drinks on AleCooks.
FAQ
Spicy Mezcal Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz mezcal
- 1 oz jalapeño simple syrup
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz sparkling water Topo Chico works great
- Ice
- Jalapeño slices for garnish
- Salt or tajín for rimming
Instructions
- Combine mezcal, lime juice, and jalapeño simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds.
- Pour into a rocks glass with a salted or tajín rim. Add ice.
- Top with sparkling water and garnish with jalapeño slices.
Notes
- Jalapeño Simple Syrup: Heat ½ cup water + ½ cup sugar + 3 jalapeño slices until dissolved. Cool completely, strain, and refrigerate up to 10 days.
- Make it less spicy: Remove jalapeño slices after 2 minutes.
- Make it sweeter: Add ¼–½ oz extra syrup.
- Swap the citrus: Grapefruit or orange juice makes great variations.
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
I am Ale Graf, a Mexican living in Texas and the creator of AleCooks and Piloncillo&Vainilla. I share easy, family-friendly recipes — some Mexican, mostly plant-based — that can be enjoyed all day, every day. My focus is on recipes that bring people together around the table, making mealtime simple, delicious and meaningful. I am also the co-author of Yo Cocino Latino, and my recipes have been featured in numerous online magazines and publications. Follow along on my social accounts for daily inspiration, tips, and delicious recipes! I would love to hear about you! Send me a DM on Instagram, and we can talk all things food 🍽️✨