Naked and Famous Cocktail (Mezcal, Aperol, and Chartreuse)
This Naked and Famous cocktail is bright, bittersweet, and gently smoky, with Aperol and yellow Chartreuse wrapped around a bold mezcal base. It's an equal-parts modern classic that tastes bar-worthy but comes together with one quick shake.
The Naked and Famous is the cocktail I pour for friends who swear they don't like mezcal. It's bright, bittersweet, and gently herbal, with just enough smoke to keep every sip interesting. Made with four ingredients, each in equal parts, it tastes like it came from a serious cocktail bar.
What I learned in recipe testing is that the mezcal matters more than you'd expect. It's outnumbered three to one by Aperol, yellow Chartreuse, and lime, so a mild bottle disappears. You don't need the pricey single-village mezcal the original calls for, but you do want one with real smoke. That smoke is what ties the bittersweet orange of the Aperol to the honeyed herbs of the Chartreuse, and it's why this Naked and Famous cocktail tastes layered instead of sweet.
Once you have the bottles, it's a quick shake and strain into a chilled coupe. I finish mine with a thin lime twist for a fresh burst of citrus aroma. And if the smoke wins you over, my smoky mezcal sage cocktail is a great next pour.
My favorite mezcal for a Naked and Famous
Montelobos is my favorite mezcal for this cocktail. The smoke comes through clearly without taking over, so you still get the bittersweet orange of the Aperol and the honeyed herbs of the Chartreuse in every sip. Casamigos mezcal is another great option and makes a beautifully balanced drink.
If someone tells me they're not keen on mezcal, I reach for Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej. The smoke is a bit lighter, so the drink feels softer and more approachable while still tasting like a true Naked and Famous. It's my favorite way to win over a mezcal skeptic.
Whatever you pour, skip anything labeled reposado or añejo. Aging mellows the smoke and adds vanilla and oak notes that muddy the bright, citrusy balance here. A joven (unaged) mezcal is what you want.
Naked and Famous Cocktail (Mezcal, Aperol, and Chartreuse)
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce mezcal
- ¾ ounce yellow Chartreuse
- ¾ ounce Aperol
- ¾ ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- Lime twist for garnish
Method
- Place a Nick & Nora or coupe glass in your freezer to chill while you make your cocktail. Add a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker, then pour in the mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime juice.¾ ounce mezcal, ¾ ounce yellow Chartreuse, ¾ ounce Aperol, ¾ ounce lime juice
- Shake vigorously until icy cold, strain into the chilled glass, then garnish with a lime twist.Lime twist
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