Blueberry Basil Mezcal Cocktail

This Blueberry Basil Mezcal cocktail is a great way to blend the sweet flavor of blueberries with the smokiness of Mezcal and bit of brightness from basil and lime.

» Also try this blueberry old fashioned cocktail and blueberry margarita.

We love Mezcal cocktails and can’t get enough of them. The smoky liquor is a little boost up from regular tequila, and it gives a unique quality to your typical cocktail.

You can add mezcal to any cocktail you would typically use tequila in, like a margarita. Doing so basically doubles your cocktail repertoire, because the two agave liquors taste quite a bit different in this cocktails.

What is Mezcal?

Mezcal is a smoky liquor made from the juice of roasted agave plants. It’s similar to tequila, but with a much smokier, earthier taste and aroma. The reason this cocktail is called a Oaxacan cocktail is because most mezcal is made in Oaxaca, Mexico.

It’s recognized as an Appellation of Origin, much like Champagne or Cognac is in France. Only mezcal made in the specified regions in Mexica can technically be called Mezcal.

Over 30 species and varieties of agave plants are used to make mezcal. The plant has very large, thick leaves with points at the ends. When it is mature, it forms a “piña” or heart in the center from which juice is extracted and made into mezcal.

It takes between seven and fifteen years for the plant to mature, depending on the species and whether it is cultivated or wild, and it can take 25 kilos of agave plant to make just one liter of mezcal.

>> Learn more about mezcal – how it’s made, how it gets its rich smoky flavor, and what are the best brands to buy.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For this cocktail, you will need the following ingredients. The recipe card gives the measurements for one cocktail, but you can make up to 4 at a time in the cocktail shaker.

• Mezcal
• Limes
• Natural agave nectar (I use this one) – if you’re avoiding sugar, you could use this sugar-free simple syrup
• Fresh basil leaves
• Salt for the rim of the glass (I use this bacon-seasoned rim salt)
• Ice

You don’t have to use bacon salt. It’s just what I prefer and it’s easy to buy it as a rimming salt. You can just use regular table salt, or any type of spiced salt you like. If you’re not into the savory spice, try a lime salt.

How to Make a Blueberry Basil Mezcal Cocktail

• Add blueberries and basil to the shaker. Muddle them together with a muddler.
• Add the mezcal, lime juice, agave, and ice. Shake until it’s nice and cold.
• Wet the rim of a cocktail glass with a lime wedge and roll the rim in bacon salt.
• Add ice to the glass, then pour in the cocktail. Garnish with a lime wedge and extra basil leaves. Serve.

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