The Smoky Liquor You Should Swap Into Your Next Cocktail

Regardless of the details behind the unclear (and likely unpleasant), history of the word "cocktail," one thing is certain about cocktails across any time period: there is always room for innovation and creativity. Sometimes this creativity is spurred by an ingredient mix-up and other times it might come from taking a sip of a drink and thinking, "I know exactly what would make this better."

In the spirit of such innovation, Lexi Parker, Lead Bartender at Poka Lola Social Club, shares her recommendation for a great liquor swap for Old Fashioneds, margaritas, and negronis. According to Parker, the traditional liquors of these beverages can be swapped with mezcal, a smoky spirit distilled from agave.

At first, replacing any of the bourbon, whiskey, tequila, or the gin of these cocktails with a single spirit to great success might sound too good to be true. However, Parker highlights how this spirit complexifies these cocktails in a way that pleases the crowds. "I've definitely noticed it getting ordered more and more often by guests at the bar," she says.

The agave plant is roasted, crushed, fermented, then distilled to create mezcal. The extra chemicals formed through fermentation and which last through the distillation are the reasons why mezcal has such complex and varied flavor and aroma profiles. One of the attributes that stands out while drinking mezcal is its smokiness.

After getting familiar with what mezcal is and how it can be enjoyed, it becomes easier to appreciate the layers of complexity it adds to Old Fashioneds, margaritas, and negronis. Lexi Parker emphasizes that the smokiness of mezcal boosts the flavors already at play in each of these traditional cocktails.

Mezcal does not need to be limited to the aforementioned cocktails, as this spirit is also well suited to enhance a variety of other beverages. "I've never made a mezcal martini before, but it does intrigue me!" says Parker. Perhaps the greatest mistake when mixing cocktails has nothing to do with form, and everything to do with forgetting to be adventurous — spirits included.