The smoky mezcal in this Smoky Basil Oaxacan Mezcal Cocktail melds perfectly with the fresh basil and sweet agave to make one super tasty cocktail.
» Speaking of Mezcal… try this Peach Mezcal Margarita. It’s delicious.

The credit for this drink goes to the Hilton Reforma in Mexico City, where they make it table-side. If you really want to impress your friends at your next party, you could set up your own table-side preparation of the cocktail.
We were in love with this cocktail from the first time we tasted it. We kept going back to the hotel bar to order it, because it was so beguilingly good. The fresh basil, sour lime juice and sweet agave syrup go together so well. And that’s even before you introduce the Mezcal, which adds a tantalizing smoky flavor.
We knew we had to procure the recipe for the cocktail so we could make it at home. It took a bit of persuading, but we got the bartender to write it down for us. First thing when we got home from Mexico, we went about gathering the ingredients and tested it out. It was just as perfect when we made it at home.
Now we can enjoy it whenever we feel like it. Which is often.

What is Mezcal and Where to Get It
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.
Our favorite brand of Mezcal to use for this cocktail is called QuiQuiRiQui. It runs at about $30-$40 a bottle. It’s not too expensive (relatively) and it’s great mixed into cocktails. Alipus, Del Maguey, and El Silencio are other brands that we really like.



You’ll probably want to try a few different brands so you can find one that you really like. There are brands that are more smoky than others, both in taste and smell. You can’t really know what you like until you try.
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How to Make an Oaxacan Mezcal Cocktail
This cocktail is super easy to make, but be prepared to have your world rocked by the flavor. The agave syrup helps to counteract the sourness of the lime and the smoky mezcal floats over it all.

For this cocktail, you’ll need a good Mezcal, but it doesn’t have to be expensive, since we’re blending it with other ingredients. We keep a sipping mezcal and a blending mezcal in our home bar, so it doesn’t get too expensive to make these. So look for a $25-30 bottle, instead of a $60 bottle.
You’ll also need:
- Plenty of 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
Step One:
Add the basil leaves and lime wedges to a cocktail shaker. Muddle them well.
Step Two:
Add the ice, Mezcal, lime juice and agave and shake.
Step Three:
Salt the rim of an old fashioned glass. Fill it with ice and extra basil leaves.
Step Four:
Pour the cocktail over the ice in the glass. Enjoy.

Salt Rim
One of the ingredients that can change up the experience of this cocktail the most is the rim salt. A traditional Oaxacan Mezcal cocktail uses worm salt for the rim.
Yes, I did just say that. Sal de Gusano (Worm Salt). It’s often served with a shot of Mezcal in Mexico, along with a slice of orange. According to the Foodrepublic.com article, “The Aztecs found these would-be pests to be delicious; they were said to hold curative properties, promoting strength and virility.”
Before you get to grossed out, I promise you can’t taste the worm. Ha. Whatever that means! It’s really just a flavorful salt.
It’s fairly difficult to find worm salt in the U.S., or anywhere outside of Mexico, for that matter. You can actually make it yourself (thanks for that Thrillist). Or if you’re like us, we just prefer to substitute the worm salt with bacon salt, which is still smoky and flavorful, but can be bought on Amazon, and doesn’t contain the word “worm”.
More Cocktails to Try
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Oaxacan Mezcal & Basil Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 lime wedges
- 5 basil leaves
- 2 ounces Mezcal
- 1.5 ounces lime juice
- 1.5 ounces agave syrup
- bacon salt for the rim of the glass
- Ice
Instructions
- Add lime wedges and basil to the shaker. Muddle.
- Add mezcal, lime juice, agave, and ice. Shake well.
- Wet the rim of an old fashioned glass with a lime wedge and roll the rim in the bacon salt.
- Add ice to the glass, then pour in the cocktail. Garnish with a lime wedge and basil leaves. Serve.
Video
Notes
- You can replace the bacon salt with another spicy or savory salt.
Nutrition
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Laura is a home cook who loves making new recipes and finding new favorite things to eat, whether at home or abroad. She also runs a popular travel blog and spends a lot of her time traveling for food.
Hello Laura,how are you?
My Name is Alex Valencia and I’m a NYC mixologist from Mexico.The Oaxaca Express (from 2012) is one of my recipes and I will like you to check it out.
Looks very similar to the Oaxaca Mezcak cocktail that you have here.
I will love to share my recipes with you.
Please google my name and you will find a lot about me.
Nice to meet you, Alex. I followed your Instagram from our cocktail site, Savored Sips. Cheers!
Fantastic!
This is AMAZING! I am vegan, so I don’t make it with bacon salt but honestly one of my favorite mixed drinks ever. Thank you!
I used some Applewood Smoked Salt combined with hot Chili Powder instead of the bacon salt – it was perfect!
I used Tajin and it’s perfect!
I love a good cocktail and the bacon salt was the perfect garnish!
I love a good cocktail, and these were definitely delicious!!
Glad to hear it!
What a delicious cocktail. And thank you for the bacon salt substitution. I for sure cannot handle the thought of worm salt!!
so refreshing and the perfect way to start the weekend!
The sun is coming out in Aus and we’re going to be able to dine outside soon. Going to make a few of these that’s for sure!
That’s so nice after a long winter. Enjoy!
I’m seriously so impressed that you can create such an amazing cocktail! The bacon salt added to this is perfection!
First I can’t believe I had a bottle of Mezcal in my house. Secondly, my wife loved this cocktail and has asked for it again tonight!
This is such a delicious cocktail, one I’ll be making all summer long!
The mezcal with the basil is so good!
This cocktail was so good everyone asked for seconds.
This cocktail sounds delicious I need to try it. perfect refreshing
Oh wow – what fun to have this made for you, table side! But … until we can all get out to lots of restaurants and resorts again, I love that I can make this at home! I’d never even heard of bacon salt, so I wasn’t sure how easily I could find it, and I appreciated your suggestion that other flavorful or spicy salts could work, too (although … bacon salt … omg !!! 😉 ).
Wow! I love this, great flavors! Adding this to my cocktail list
The perfect drink after a long day. Looks amazing.
Love a good cocktail with a kick; looking forward to winding down with this after dinner tonight! Sounds amazing!
What a delicious refreshing cocktail. Definitely one for the weekend.
I’ve never tried mezcal but you’re making me want to try it right away. I love the bacon salt too!
This cocktail is perfect! Thanks for the recipe!
What a delicious cocktail recipe. Looks great!
I am all about a good salted rim on my cocktails! What a delicious creation you have here!
I’ve recently discovered mezcal and have become obsessed! This is cocktail seriously gives my life. The basil muddled with the lime…..PERFECTION!!! Thank you for sharing.
I’m so glad you liked it, Maura. I feel exactly the same about it. It’s my favorite cocktail.
This recipe looks intriguing and delicious. Do you think it would pair well with Birria tacos?
Everything about the drink was great except I found it too sweet. I will need to cut back on the agave next time.