Sep 08 2026
RestaurantsJefferson SocialMezcal Recipe

Mezcal Recipe

Inspired by Jefferson Social
Time10m
Serves1

Ilegal Mezcal, Orange Liqueur, House Made Sour Mix, Fresh Lime Juice

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Ingredients

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Cocktail

House-made sour mix (make ahead)

Method

House-made sour mix (make ahead)

  1. 1

    Combine citrus and syrup

    Juice fresh lemons and limes until you have 1 cup of each. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp and seeds into a pitcher.

  2. 2

    Add simple syrup

    Add 1.5 cups of 1:1 simple syrup (equal parts granulated sugar and hot water cooled) to the strained citrus juices. Stir thoroughly until combined.

  3. 3

    Chill and store

    Refrigerate the sour mix in a sealed container for up to 7–10 days. Stir before using. Use 1 oz per cocktail as specified below.

Cocktail assembly

  1. 4

    Prepare glass (optional rim)

    If rimming, rub a lime wedge around the glass rim and dip the rim into coarse or smoked salt laid on a small plate. Set glass aside and chill briefly with ice if desired, then discard the ice before pouring.

  2. 5

    Combine ingredients

    In a cocktail shaker, add 6 ice cubes, 2 oz Ilegal Mezcal, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, 1 oz house-made sour mix, and 0.75 oz fresh lime juice.

  3. 6

    Shake

    Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels very cold and well-chilled.

  4. 7

    Strain and serve

    Double-strain the cocktail into the prepared glass over fresh ice (rocks glass) or serve neat in a coupe if preferred. Use a fine mesh strainer in addition to the shaker strainer to catch any small ice chips or pulp.

  5. 8

    Garnish

    Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge and optionally an expressed orange twist (express oils over the drink and drop or discard). Serve immediately.

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