Every now and then, a modern cocktail comes along that’s an instant classic. Maybe it’s fate or maybe just good luck, but the aptly named Naked and Famous is one such cocktail. It’s been described as the ‘love child’ of the equally famous Last Word and Paper Plane cocktails. It’s intensely flavored, yet incredibly balanced, and is the perfect drink to serve at your next dinner party.
Naked and Famous Recipe
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice
02
Shake for 30 seconds to chill then strain into a chilled coupé glass and serve
History of the Naked & Famous cocktail
The cocktail was created by New York bartender Joaquín Simó during his time at the famed Death & Co. It follows the equal-parts formula of its parent cocktails, but the twist lies in the smoky mezcal. Each ingredient has a powerful flavor, but when shaken together, they create a one-of-a-kind drink that’s the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and smoky. It’s a modern classic that has the honor of being on the International Bartender’s Association list of official cocktails.
You also might like: 20 Aperol Cocktail Recipes.
Variations
There are many ways to tinker with the Naked and Famous recipe. The classic recipe calls for an intensely smoky mezcal, but you can dial it back a few notches to suit your taste. You can also replace the yellow chartreuse with green. The yellow is milder and sweeter with linger herbal notes, while the green is more assertive, herbal, and medicinal. Just remember, the key to a good Naked and Famous cocktail is balancing all the flavors. If you want to taste the two cocktails that spawn the Naked and Famous, try the rousing Last Word and rounded Paper Plane.
When to serve
The Naked and Famous cocktail feels like a special drink, so it’ll fit right in at any special occasion. Serve it up at dinner parties, weddings, birthday parties, or just a casual night in with friends. It comes together in a flash but be warned. The Naked and Famous cocktail has quite a kick, so sip responsibly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Mezcal and tequila are both made from agave plants, but they are not the same. Mezcal is produced from several types of agaves that are roasted in underground pits before being crushed to extract the juice. The juice is fermented to produce mezcal. Tequila is only produced from the blue Weber agave which is steamed to extract the juice. So, tequila is a type of mezcal but mezcal is not a tequila.
Chartreuse is a herbal liqueur from France that contains over 130 botanicals. It’s made from a secret recipe and there are two types—yellow and green. Yellow chartreuse is milder and sweeter, while green is stronger with a lingering medicinal quality.
Aperol is an Italian, low-alcohol bitter aperitif. It’s also made from a secret recipe, and it tastes like bitter oranges with herbal notes.
