3-Ingredient Mezcal Cocktails Anyone Can Make

Mezcal is an agave-based spirit from Mexico, just like tequila. However, other than that, tequila and mezcal are worlds apart. They are both layered with nuanced flavors, but with mezcal, the most prominent one is smoke. While mezcal is an intriguing and downright delicious spirit, it also has the potential to make anyone new to it a little intimidated, especially when it comes to how best to enjoy it.

Should you drink it straight or mix it into a cocktail? As it turns out, both. Mezcal is perfect for sipping, but it also makes a mean cocktail — and you don't have to get fancy with it. In fact, there are a handful of delicious, easy-to-make mezcal drinks that only call for three ingredients. And, yes, that includes the spirit itself.

As a bartender for 10 years and someone with a personal infatuation with mezcal, I've made and enjoyed my fair share of cocktails that include it. If my time mixing up drinks has taught me anything, it's that some of the best beverages are the simplest to make. They don't have to be elaborate to taste outstanding, and thanks to mezcal's bold flavor profile, it's a great liquor to show you why. So, if you're ready to dive headfirst into the world of mezcal and make some simple, yet super tasty three-ingredient cocktails, look no further.

The first three-ingredient cocktail up for your consideration is the mezcal Negroni. A play on the classic Negroni, the recipe keeps the Campari and sweet vermouth, but swaps out gin for mezcal. Simultaneously bitter, sweet, smoky, and herbaceous, it is a wonderland of flavor for your palate. Every time you take a sip, you will pick up on something new.

To make your own mezcal Negroni, simply combine equal parts of each ingredient with ice and stir until well chilled. Then, pour it into another glass, preferably with one large block or sphere of ice in it. If that's not possible, a couple of cubes of whatever ice is already in your freezer will work fine. You just don't want to dilute the delicious cocktail with an abundance of ice. You can also garnish it with an orange peel twist or a slice of orange. But, again, if you're trying to keep the ingredients to a minimum, the drink is drool-worthy enough to turn heads without any add-ons. The mezcal Negroni blows the original Negroni out of the water.

Made with lavender simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and, of course, mezcal, the mezcal lavender lemon cocktail has a little something to pique the interest of any palate. Why? Well, bright, tart citrus and delicate floral flavors pair phenomenally with the deep, earthy, smoky taste of mezcal. Combined, the elements create an array of flavors that are not only perfectly balanced, but hard not to like.

A mezcal lavender lemon is shaken and then served over ice. Word to the wise: Any cocktail containing citrus juice should be shaken. As for the lavender simple syrup, you can make it yourself if you want to go the extra mile, but if you're not up to the task, there's nothing wrong with a store-bought option. There are plenty of tasty brands on liquor store shelves. Whichever route you go, don't go overboard on the lavender simple syrup, or your drink will quickly become too sweet to let the other elements shine. Two ounces of mezcal, 1 ounce of lemon juice, and a ½ ounce of lavender syrup will do the trick.

Another classic cocktail that gets a serious flavor boost when you swap out the traditional liquor for mezcal is the Moscow mule. Vodka is great and all, but mezcal adds a layer of smoke and bite that refuses to go unnoticed, and takes the mule to the next level. Regardless, a mezcal mule boasts the bright taste of ginger, the zest of lime, and all the nuanced taste of mezcal, making for a winning combination by any standards.

Served over ice, a mezcal mule calls for 2 ounces of the namesake spirit, ½ ounce of fresh lime juice, and ginger beer to top it off. Bonus points if you have a copper mug to serve it in or any extra lime to garnish it with. Either way, this is the type of drink that is refreshing yet down-to-earth, and it can be enjoyed year-round.

One of the best things about a mezcal mule is that it also takes to additional ingredients like a champ. While completely unnecessary, you can also bulk it up with a splash of pineapple, cranberry, or grapefruit juice. Some muddled mint wouldn't hurt, either.

Everyone's favorite tequila cocktail, the margarita, is another drink begging for a mezcal upgrade. Best of all, the recipe is easy to simplify, so you really only need three ingredients to make a deliciously balanced drink: mezcal, lime juice, and agave nectar. Just like a classic margarita, it has all the brightness and zest a person could want, a touch of sweetness, and some serious bite. However, the mezcal gives it a deeper, smoky flavor profile, which tones down the tartness in a deliciously grounding way.

Because of the fresh lime, a mezcal margarita should be shaken before serving it over ice. This helps release the bright citrus flavors of the juice while also ensuring it gets thoroughly combined with the mezcal and agave nectar.

In addition, simple syrup will work instead of agave nectar, but considering mezcal is an agave-based spirit, it is not only a tastier pick, but a more complementary one, as well. Similar to a mezcal mule, the margarita welcomes additional flavor infusions. You can make it spicy with muddled jalapeños or a Tajin rim, toss some berries, cucumber slices, or other fruit juices into the mix, or go back to basics and add some orange liqueur or a salted rim on the glass. Fun fact: Gordon Ramsay prefers mezcal in his margaritas, as well.

Slightly bitter, tart, deliciously earthy, and incredibly refreshing all at the same time, the Oaxacan paloma is another three-ingredient cocktail you don't want to miss out on. In fact, once you get a taste, you'll wonder how it managed to pull off such amazing flavors with the restricted recipe. If you are a fan of margaritas, even better. It offers the same bright punch, but with a tart edge that sets it apart. When you add mezcal to the equation, you also get a rich, smoky taste to counterbalance grapefruit's harsh bite.

A Oaxacan paloma is basically just a highball with some added lime juice, so it couldn't be simpler to make. Just fill a glass with ice, add your mezcal of choice, squeeze in some fresh lime juice, and top with grapefruit soda (a favorite is Jarritos). You also have the option to add a salt or Tajin rim to the glass, but even without one, the Oaxacan paloma is refreshing enough to turn some heads.

If you just so happen to have fresh grapefruits on hand, you can also make an Oaxacan paloma with them. Just swap out the soda for grapefruit juice and sparkling water. However, that takes it up to four ingredients, so if minimal elements is the name of your game, grapefruit soda is still the way to go.

The pineapple mezcal soda, is the easiest one of all the three-ingredient cocktails to pull off. It doesn't require any squeezing of fruit, shaking, or extended stirring. Just combine the ingredients over ice and enjoy.

The name pretty much says it all with this cocktail, at least as far as ingredients are concerned. Just in case you haven't guessed by now, it is made with pineapple juice, soda water, and mezcal. If you choose not to stir it, you also get a beautiful layered effect, because the pineapple juice sinks to the bottom of the glass. However, if you don't have any straws in your home bar to serve it with, it's best to give it a quick stir before enjoying. Otherwise, you won't get the full flavor effect in each sip.

The pineapple mezcal soda may not sound like much, but the elements come together in a way that won't be denied. The bright sweetness of the pineapple juice complements the deep smoke and earthiness of agave beautifully, and the effervescence of the soda water smooths the whole thing out. Talk about refreshing.

For all you old fashioned fans out there, you need to pay attention, because the recipe only gets tastier with a smoky ingredient swap courtesy of our new bestie, mezcal. I know, I know. Whiskey and bourbon drinkers are often ride or die for the brown spirit. Even so, straying from the norm to make what is commonly referred to as an Oaxaca old fashioned, could have even the most devoted whiskey lovers out there rethinking their unyielding loyalty. Sweet, smooth, smoky, herbaceous, and bitter, it is the stuff dreams are made of.

The Oaxaca old fashioned calls for just three ingredients: mezcal, Angostura bitters, and agave nectar. The classic recipe calls for muddled demerara sugar, but when going the mezcal route, agave nectar is better. After all, they are both agave-based. Regardless, if you don't have any on hand, you can go for sugar in a pinch. Sound familiar? It should. Either way, though, all three ingredients are stirred over ice until well chilled and then strained into another glass, preferably with one large cube of ice to prevent excessive dilution. An optional orange peel garnish is also customary but not required.

The Manhattan is already one of the most popular cocktails of all time, so it's darn near perfect as-is. Even so, a little zhoosh never hurts, right? So, without further ado, let's try the mezcal Manhattan. It only requires three ingredients: mezcal, sweet vermouth, and bitters, but, oh man, does it have what it takes to knock your socks off. Think of it like the classic drink — boozy, bitter, and sweet — but with a rich smoke and earthy flavor replacing the oakiness that accompanies many whiskeys and bourbons.

To make your own mezcal Manhattan, stir all three ingredients over ice until well chilled. About 30 seconds should do the trick. Then, strain them into a martini glass and enjoy. A cherry garnish won't hurt, but as is the case with many of the drinks, your cocktail will still taste phenomenal without one. You also have the option to enjoy this spirit-forward beverage on the rocks (over ice), but serving it up or even neat leads to the best flavor retention.

There are several ways to take your whiskey sour to the next level, and one of them just so happens to be switching out the customary spirit, whiskey, for mezcal. It adds a rich layer of smoky goodness to the already zesty, bright tartness of the drink, and who doesn't like a good remix?

Once again, the name Mezcal sour is a dead giveaway with this one. It contains mezcal and a fresh sour mix. Translation: lemon juice and simple syrup. It's another three-ingredient cocktail you should commit to memory. All of the elements are shaken vigorously — this ensures the lemon juice not only pops, but becomes a succinct part of the final drink — and then poured over ice. It can also be enjoyed up in a coupe glass, but on the rocks is customary.

If you want to take your mezcal sour to even greater heights, you can add egg whites to the mix before shaking. When you do, it gives the resulting beverage a frothy texture that can only be described as divine. Even so, that takes us out of the three-ingredient limit, so again, it's not necessary.

Ah, the espresso martini, perfect for when you need a little pep in your step. While typically made with vodka or sometimes even tequila (a personal favorite rendition), mezcal also fits into the equation seamlessly. The deep, dark richness of espresso sings when paired with the earthy, smoky flavor that comes along with mezcal. The espresso also tones down the harshness found in lower-quality versions of mezcal spectacularly. So, if you want to mask a lesser-than bottle, it's got your back.

There are countless ways to make an espresso martini, many of which go overboard. However, all you need to mix up a mouthwatering one is mezcal, coffee liqueur, and espresso. Shaken vigorously and then served up, these three simple ingredients more than get the job done. You don't need an espresso machine at home to make them, either. Plenty of store-bought options are available to help you actualize your cocktail-making dreams. If you need a little more sweetness in your drinks, you can tone it down a bit with the tiniest splash of cream. But try it without it first. The combination of ingredients in the mezcal espresso martini may just surprise you.

When making a margarita seems like too much work, ranch water is here for the win. Usually made with tequila, it also showcases simplicity at its finest when you swap out the spirit for mezcal.

So, what is it? Mezcal, sparkling mineral water, and fresh lime juice, stirred and served over ice. That's it. However, the devil is in the details with this one.

When it comes to making a mezcal ranch water people will want to drink, it's important to choose premium ingredients. After all, soda water is almost flavorless, so the mezcal has to do the heavy-lifting. Choose a mezcal you would also enjoy drinking straight, because there's nowhere for subpar flavors to hide. In addition, opting for a quality sparkling water, like Top Chico, will seriously improve the flavor, as well. As for lime juice, don't even think about using that plastic lime-shaped bottle in the back of your fridge. Go fresh-squeezed or go home. If not, you'll wind up with a cocktail that you'll suffer through rather than relish.

If you like a tropical bevy that isn't too sweet, you are in for a treat with the smoking banana. This truly unique drink is made with mezcal, a spicy or funky-tasting rum, and banana liqueur. While a bit sweet, it also boasts all the dark, earthy, smoky flavors of mezcal and the spice of rum. It covers all the bases. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it'll make you feel like you are on a beachside vacay, either.

Like many other cocktails, choosing premium spirits goes a long way when making a smoking banana. For starters, many banana liqueurs are questionable at best, so make sure you go for a top-tier pick. Definitely steer clear of 99 Bananas or anything like that. Giffard Banane du Brasil is a fantastic option. The same goes for the tequila and rum. After all, there isn't a mixer in sight, so each spirit needs to be able to stand alone when it comes to quality. Once you have your ingredients acquired, combine them in a glass with ice, stir, and then strain them into another glass over a large cube of ice.

Now that you've stretched your mixology learning capabilities, all that's left for you to do is go buy some top-notch mezcal and start exploring the world of tasty three-ingredient cocktails perfect for the spirit's nuanced taste. Challenge accepted.