Why You’ll Love This Cocktail
- Perfect balance of smoky, sweet, bitter, and tart
- Easy equal-parts recipe
- Sophisticated yet approachable flavor
- Great introduction to mezcal cocktails
- Quick to make at home
Ingredients
For One Cocktail
- ¾ oz (22 ml) Mezcal
- ¾ oz (22 ml) Yellow Chartreuse
- ¾ oz (22 ml) Aperol
- ¾ oz (22 ml) Fresh lime juice
Garnish
- Lime wheel
- Lime twist (optional)
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger
- Hawthorne strainer
- Coupe glass or Nick & Nora glass
Instructions
Step 1: Chill the Glass
Place a coupe glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water while preparing the cocktail.
Step 2: Add Ingredients
Into a cocktail shaker add:
- Mezcal
- Yellow Chartreuse
- Aperol
- Fresh lime juice
Fill the shaker with ice.
Step 3: Shake
Shake vigorously for:
10–15 seconds
until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled.
Step 4: Strain
Discard the ice from the chilled glass.
Double-strain the cocktail into the coupe glass.
Step 5: Garnish
Garnish with:
- A lime wheel
- Or a thin lime twist
Serve immediately.
Flavor Profile
First Sip
Bright citrus and gentle sweetness.
Mid-Palate
Complex herbal notes from Yellow Chartreuse.
Finish
Light smokiness from the mezcal balanced by Aperol’s bittersweet orange character.
Cocktail Specs
Ratio
Equal parts:
- 1 part Mezcal
- 1 part Yellow Chartreuse
- 1 part Aperol
- 1 part Lime Juice
This makes the drink easy to remember and scale up for parties.
Batch Recipe (8 Servings)
- 6 oz Mezcal
- 6 oz Yellow Chartreuse
- 6 oz Aperol
- 6 oz Fresh lime juice
Mix, refrigerate, and shake individual servings with ice before serving.
Bartender’s Tips
✔ Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best balance.
✔ A smoky mezcal works best, but avoid overly aggressive expressions.
✔ Chill the glass thoroughly to keep the cocktail crisp.
✔ Double-straining creates a smoother texture.
✔ If you enjoy the Last Word, you’ll likely love the Naked & Famous.
Yield
1 cocktail
Prep Time
5 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Glassware
Coupe or Nick & Nora Glass
The Naked & Famous is a brilliantly balanced modern classic that delivers smoky mezcal, bright citrus, herbal complexity, and bittersweet orange notes in every sip.
