For A Smokier Negroni, Swap Out The Gin For A Mexican Favorite

Negronis have existed for over a century and are enjoyed worldwide. Given its popularity, many have experimented with new spins on this culturally iconic cocktail. One of our favorites is the mezcal Negroni, also known as the Oaxacan Negroni. Emerging in the early 2000s, this version swaps the original's gin for mezcal. The result is an inviting team of earthy, smoky tones that matches the bittersweet Campari and sweet vermouth in their boldness. As an added benefit, this Negroni is enjoyed more casually and can be paired with a wider variety of food, including steak and eggplant.

Does this sound great, but you're still craving something more? The La Avenida is another great choice, as its very similar to the mezcal Negroni but with an adventurous twist. Simply switch out the Campari for Aperol — its milder and sweeter sibling — and add a little bit of both sweet and dry vermouth. What you get is an epic team-up of the mezcal's alluringly rich tones, the Negroni's herbaceous quality, and juicy notes of orange, grape, and berry. Both versions of the Negroni are perfect for slow sipping and wondrous spins on the original recipe.

Although "mezcal" is more of a blanket term like wine or beer, covering any distilled spirit made from Agave  except tequila, there are plenty of ways that the right bartender can make it into quite the cocktail. For example, the Naked and Famous Mezcal Cocktail combines tart lime and a unique sweetness by incorporating yellow Chartreuse with Aperol and mezcal. This takes the bittersweet, smokey notes of the mezcal Negroni to new heights.

You can also enjoy tequila's varied cousin in margarita format. The ideal ratio for a mezcal margarita may be debatable and best left up to the imbiber, but there are a few turns you can take here. Swapping the tequila completely for the mezcal adds an extra smokey twist on the classic recipe, and splitting the base into a 1:1 ratio of tequila and mezcal enriches the flavor even more. I've found that going the Cadillac Margarita route by adding Grand Marnier rounds out the mezcal's smokiness out nicely with the boost in earthy, citrus notes.