Every serious cocktail started somewhere else. The Negroni was a riff on the Americano. The Gold Rush was a whiskey sour with honey. The best bartenders don't just follow recipes — they swap base spirits, tweak ratios, and turn familiar drinks into something entirely new.
Tequila and mezcal are two of the best spirits for this. Here's a quick guide to what each one brings to a cocktail:
| Spirit | What It Brings | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco Tequila | Bright agave, citrus, pepper | Espresso martinis, palomas, shaken drinks |
| Reposado Tequila | Oak, vanilla, soft caramel | Old fashioneds, mules, stirred cocktails |
| Añejo Tequila | Deep barrel character, baking spice | Sipping cocktails, spirit-forward builds |
| Mezcal (Espadín) | Smoke, earth, mineral complexity | Negronis, split-base cocktails, smoky twists |
Five classics, reimagined with agave. Here's what to make and what to pour.
1. The Tequila Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is the original cocktail — spirit, sugar, bitters, done. It works because it strips everything back and lets the base spirit speak. And aged tequila has a lot to say.
A reposado or añejo brings vanilla, caramel, and baked agave into a format traditionally owned by bourbon. Swap in agave nectar for the sugar cube — it dissolves instantly and complements the spirit naturally.
The Recipe
| Reposado or añejo tequila | 2 oz |
| Herradura Agave Nectar | 1 barspoon |
| Angostura aromatic bitters | 2 dashes |
| Angostura orange bitters | 1 dash |
| Orange peel | Garnish |
Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Express the orange peel over the surface and drop it in.
The bottle: Tequila Ocho Reposado is an outstanding choice — single-estate agave with soft caramel and oak that plays perfectly with bitters and citrus oil. For more barrel depth, try Tequila Ocho Añejo. Either way, use something from our additive-free collection — this drink has nowhere to hide.
Mezcal twist: Split the base — 1.5 oz reposado and 0.5 oz El Silencio Espadin. The smoke plays beautifully against the bitters and citrus oil without taking over.
2. The Tequila Espresso Martini
The espresso martini has been everywhere for the past few years — and for good reason. But the standard vodka version is essentially a delivery system for coffee. There's nothing wrong with that, but tequila gives the drink an actual personality.
Blanco tequila adds herbal, peppery agave notes that cut through the sweetness of the coffee liqueur. The result is more balanced, more interesting, and more fun to drink than the original.
The Recipe
| Blanco tequila | 2 oz |
| Freshly pulled espresso, cooled slightly | 1 oz |
| Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur | 0.75 oz |
| Agave nectar | 0.25 oz |
Shake all ingredients hard with ice for at least 15 seconds — you need that foam. Double strain into a chilled coupe. Three coffee beans if you're feeling traditional.
The bottle: Tequila Ocho Plata is the ideal base — single-estate blanco with bright, clean agave character that cuts through coffee without competing with it. For the coffee liqueur, Mr Black is the move over Kahlúa — drier, more intensely coffee-forward, and less sweet. If you prefer a sweeter, more dessert-like version, Kahlúa Especial splits the difference with higher proof and darker roast character.
Mezcal twist: Use 1.5 oz Ocho Plata and 0.5 oz mezcal. Smoke and coffee is surprisingly natural — think campfire and morning coffee.
3. The Mezcal Negroni
The Negroni is one of those drinks where every ingredient pulls equal weight. Gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari in perfect balance. Swapping mezcal for gin doesn't just change the flavor — it changes the entire mood of the drink. It goes from bright and botanical to smoky, earthy, and a little mysterious.
This one has been a staple on serious cocktail menus for years — and it's one of the best introductions to mezcal for people who think they don't like it.
The Recipe
| Mezcal (espadín) | 1.5 oz |
| Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth | 1 oz |
| Campari | 0.75 oz |
| Orange peel | Garnish |
Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Express the orange peel and garnish.
The bottle: Mezcal Vago Espadin is excellent — traditional tahona-milled, copper-distilled, with balanced smoke that stands up to Campari. Corte Vetusto Espadin is another strong option with earthy mineral notes and bright citrus. For vermouth, Carpano Antica is the gold standard — or save a few bucks with Martini & Rossi Rosso. Browse our full mezcal and vermouth collections for more.
Pro tip: Pull the Campari back to 0.75 oz instead of a full ounce. It keeps the smoke from getting buried. Let the mezcal lead.
4. The Smoky Paloma
The Paloma is Mexico's most popular cocktail — more widely consumed than the margarita — and for good reason. Grapefruit and tequila just makes sense. Adding a mezcal float takes it from refreshing summer drink to something with real depth.
The Recipe
| Blanco tequila | 1.5 oz |
| Mezcal | 0.5 oz |
| Fresh lime juice | 0.75 oz |
| Fresh grapefruit juice | 0.5 oz |
| Agave nectar | 0.25 oz |
| Grapefruit soda (Jarritos, Squirt, or Topo Chico) | To top |
| Tajín and lime | For the rim |
Shake tequila, mezcal, juices, and agave nectar with ice. Strain into a Tajín-rimmed highball over fresh ice. Top with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
The bottle: Tequila Ocho Plata is perfect — clean, agave-forward, and bright enough to shine through the citrus. For the mezcal, El Silencio Espadin is approachable and won't overpower the fruit. For a more complex version, try El Silencio Ensamble — its blend of Espadin, Tobasiche, and Mexicano agaves adds floral and chili notes that work surprisingly well with grapefruit.
5. The Oaxacan Mule
The Moscow Mule is vodka, ginger beer, and lime. The Kentucky Mule is bourbon. The Mexican Mule uses tequila. But the version worth making at home splits the base between tequila and mezcal — giving you the ginger-lime combination with a layer of complexity underneath.
The Recipe
| Reposado tequila | 1.5 oz |
| Mezcal | 0.5 oz |
| Fresh lime juice | 0.75 oz |
| Agave nectar | 0.25 oz |
| Ginger beer | To top |
| Lime wheel and candied ginger | Garnish |
Build in a copper mug or highball. Add ice, top with ginger beer, stir gently. Garnish with a lime wheel.
The bottle: Tequila Ocho Reposado provides the backbone with soft oak and bright agave. For the mezcal, Corte Vetusto Espadin adds just enough earthy smoke to make it interesting. A couple dashes of Angostura bitters are optional but recommended — they tie everything together.
Tips for Better Agave Cocktails
Agave nectar > simple syrup. Agave nectar dissolves easily and complements tequila and mezcal in a way cane sugar doesn't. We carry both Herradura and Real Mixers.
The split-base technique is underrated. You don't need to go full mezcal to get the smoke. A half-ounce alongside tequila lets you control the intensity. Campfire, not house fire.
Additive-free matters in cocktails, too. With 3–4 ingredients, the quality of each one is immediately obvious. Clean tequila = brighter, more defined cocktails. Browse our additive-free tequila collection.
Fresh citrus, always. Bottled lime juice and fresh lime juice make fundamentally different cocktails. This isn't optional. Squeeze it yourself.
Build your bitters shelf. Angostura aromatic, orange, and cocoa — those three cover almost any agave cocktail. The cocoa bitters are especially good in the espresso martini. Shop our full bitters collection.
Vermouth matters more than you think. In a mezcal Negroni, cheap vermouth drags the whole drink down. Carpano Antica Formula is worth the investment — and keep it refrigerated once opened. Browse our vermouth collection.
Shop the Essentials
Everything you need to make these cocktails — available online with fast nationwide shipping:
| Tequila | Shop All Tequila |
| Mezcal | Shop All Mezcal |
| Additive-Free Tequila | Shop Additive-Free |
| Vermouth | Shop Vermouth |
| Aperitifs | Shop Aperitifs |
| Bitters | Shop Bitters |
| Liqueurs & Cordials | Shop Liqueurs |
| Bar Supplies | Shop Bar Supplies |
Or visit us in person at our Wheeling, Niles, or Vernon Hills locations — our team can help you find the right bottles for your home bar.
