Mezcal recipes

9 drinks worth a Monday. Classics with the tequila swapped, two modern classics, and the neat pour.

A classic margarita with the tequila swapped for mezcal. Smoke, lime and a salted rim. Two minutes of work.

Mexico's most popular highball, made smoky. Grapefruit soda does most of the work, which is why bars love it on a Monday.

The Mexico City after-dinner drink, split with mezcal so the vanilla and citrus of Licor 43 get some grit.

Phil Ward's 2007 Death and Co drink put mezcal on cocktail menus everywhere. Reposado does the body, mezcal does the smoke, agave does the sweet.

Gin out, mezcal in. Bitter, sweet and smoky in equal thirds. The easiest way to make a Negroni taste new.

Joaquín Simó's 2011 drink from Death and Co. Mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse and lime, all in equal measure. Bright, herbal and smoky.

The Moscow Mule with a better spirit. Ginger and smoke are a natural pair, and it takes a minute to build.

A whiskey sour template with mezcal. The egg white softens the smoke into something you can drink two of.

No ice, no shaking, no hurry. A copita or a small tumbler, an orange slice and a pinch of sal de gusano if you can find it.