Short answer: a Mezcal Negroni is a Negroni with mezcal in place of the gin: 1 ounce each of mezcal, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred with ice and strained over one large ice cube, with an orange half-wheel. For the non-alcoholic version, pour a 200ml bottle of Phony Mezcal Negroni over ice.
According to Liquor.com, cocktail bars and agave-focused spots such as Mayahuel in New York City made the Mezcal Negroni popular, and it is now considered a modern classic.
Add the mezcal, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until well chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
Garnish with the orange half-wheel.
Difford's Guide uses the same equal parts but builds the drink straight in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass, and garnishes it with an orange twist, a green olive or both.
Why smoke works in a Negroni
Compared with the red original, the change is all in the base. The Campari and sweet vermouth stay, and mezcal's smoky, earthy and savory flavors replace the dry botanicals and citrus of gin. Liquor.com's explanation for why the swap works is that mezcal is assertive enough to hold its own against bitter Campari and herbal vermouth, so the smoke comes through instead of getting buried.
The Phony Mezcal Negroni is built on the Phony Negroni formula with smoked nopales cactus, and it is made with 30 botanical ingredients, led by smoke, citrus peel and gentian root. It plays up mezcal's character, so expect earthy, vegetal notes next to the bitterness. It is made in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 200ml bottles at under 0.5% ABV, and it won Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Phony Mezcal Negroni
Ingredients
One 200ml bottle of Phony Mezcal Negroni, chilled
One large ice cube
Orange half-wheel, optional
Method
Put the ice cube in a rocks glass.
Pour the Phony Mezcal Negroni over it.
Add the orange half-wheel if you want the classic's garnish.
There is nothing to measure. It is made ready to serve, over ice or straight from the bottle.
Questions
What is in a Mezcal Negroni?
Mezcal, Campari and sweet vermouth in equal parts. Liquor.com's recipe uses 1 ounce of each, stirred with ice and strained over one large ice cube, with an orange half-wheel.
What does a Mezcal Negroni taste like?
It tastes like a Negroni with smoke in it. Mezcal brings earthy, savory and smoky flavors where gin brings dry botanicals, and the bitterness and sweetness of the original stay.
Where did the Mezcal Negroni come from?
Liquor.com credits cocktail bars and agave-focused spots, such as Mayahuel in New York City, with making it popular.
Is there a non-alcoholic Mezcal Negroni?
Yes. The Phony Mezcal Negroni from St. Agrestis is built on the Phony Negroni formula with smoked nopales cactus. It is under 0.5% ABV and comes ready to drink in 200ml bottles. Pour it over ice in a rocks glass.
Mezcal Negroni Recipe, Classic and Non-Alcoholic
Short answer: a Mezcal Negroni is a Negroni with mezcal in place of the gin: 1 ounce each of mezcal, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred with ice and strained over one large ice cube, with an orange half-wheel. For the non-alcoholic version, pour a 200ml bottle of Phony Mezcal Negroni over ice.
According to Liquor.com, cocktail bars and agave-focused spots such as Mayahuel in New York City made the Mezcal Negroni popular, and it is now considered a modern classic.
The classic Mezcal Negroni
The ratio stays at equal parts and the method is the same as a Negroni. These measures are from Liquor.com's Mezcal Negroni recipe.
Mezcal Negroni
Ingredients
Method
Difford's Guide uses the same equal parts but builds the drink straight in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass, and garnishes it with an orange twist, a green olive or both.
Why smoke works in a Negroni
Compared with the red original, the change is all in the base. The Campari and sweet vermouth stay, and mezcal's smoky, earthy and savory flavors replace the dry botanicals and citrus of gin. Liquor.com's explanation for why the swap works is that mezcal is assertive enough to hold its own against bitter Campari and herbal vermouth, so the smoke comes through instead of getting buried.
For the red original and the other base-spirit swaps, see the guide to Negroni ingredients.
The non-alcoholic Mezcal Negroni
The Phony Mezcal Negroni is built on the Phony Negroni formula with smoked nopales cactus, and it is made with 30 botanical ingredients, led by smoke, citrus peel and gentian root. It plays up mezcal's character, so expect earthy, vegetal notes next to the bitterness. It is made in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 200ml bottles at under 0.5% ABV, and it won Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Phony Mezcal Negroni
Ingredients
Method
There is nothing to measure. It is made ready to serve, over ice or straight from the bottle.
Questions
What is in a Mezcal Negroni?
Mezcal, Campari and sweet vermouth in equal parts. Liquor.com's recipe uses 1 ounce of each, stirred with ice and strained over one large ice cube, with an orange half-wheel.
What does a Mezcal Negroni taste like?
It tastes like a Negroni with smoke in it. Mezcal brings earthy, savory and smoky flavors where gin brings dry botanicals, and the bitterness and sweetness of the original stay.
Where did the Mezcal Negroni come from?
Liquor.com credits cocktail bars and agave-focused spots, such as Mayahuel in New York City, with making it popular.
Is there a non-alcoholic Mezcal Negroni?
Yes. The Phony Mezcal Negroni from St. Agrestis is built on the Phony Negroni formula with smoked nopales cactus. It is under 0.5% ABV and comes ready to drink in 200ml bottles. Pour it over ice in a rocks glass.
The Phony Mezcal Negroni comes in 6, 12 and 24 packs, and the build-your-own pack mixes it with the other flavors in one order.