Illegal Margarita

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (68 ratings)

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
1 oz Del Maguey Vida Clásico Mezcal
12 oz White overproof rum (unaged Jamaican/funky)
12 oz Difford's Falernum liqueur
16 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
34 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
13 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)
13 oz Egg white (pasteurised) or 3 dashes Fee Brothers Fee Foam cocktail foamer or Aquafaba or Vegan egg white alternative
3 drop Difford's Margarita Bitters
2 drop Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lime zest twist and dehydrated lime slice wheel.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker.
  4. DRY SHAKE (without ice).
  5. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  6. Express lime zest twist over cocktail and discard.
  7. Garnish with dehydrated lime wheel.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

  • Egg white (pasteurised) - Eggs

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

Two massively flavoursome spirits and two very characterful liqueurs combine harmoniously in this delicious sour.

View readers' comments

Variant:

Served on-the-rocks in a clay or terracotta mug.

History:

The origin of this cocktail is unknown but as far as I know, it has no connection with the similarly named mezcal brand spelt with just the one 'l'. Its popularity is such that it appears as a "New era drink" on the 2020 IBA Official Cocktail List (spelt with a double 'l').

Nutrition:

One serving of Illegal Margarita contains 195 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 18.02% alc./vol. (18.02° proof)
  • 19.4 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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letti pearce’s Avatar letti pearce
5th April at 16:41
I think this maybe my all time favourite. Everyone I make it for loves it and wants the recipe. I do drop the sugar slightly or it’s just too drinkable! Worth buying the bitters for this alone.
25th October 2024 at 07:09
Yup, this is up my alley! An adventure thru a rich landscape of flavours. Considering how many powerful ingridients it is built of it comes out surprisingly harmonious and smooth.
Florian Ruf’s Avatar Florian Ruf
18th June 2024 at 15:43
Excellent balanced cocktail! Only for a regular Bacardi Carta Blanca I suggest to use 50% more.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
2nd May 2023 at 01:30
Not being a fan of Mezcal, decided to use 1/4 of the mezcal and 3/4 of Anejo tequila. Perfect amount of smoky for me. Wonderful cocktail, the way we made it, and it went perfectly with a spicy Mexican pozole.
John Tovey’s Avatar John Tovey
8th April 2023 at 17:59
Fantastic drink. Got to be careful with the Maraschino else it overpowers but needless to say, I'm going back in for round 2.
Malea Kneen’s Avatar Malea Kneen
7th April 2023 at 16:32
I want to make this soooo much. In the middle of relocating so we’re out of many ingredients ? Definitely one to make ASAP once we get settled.
Malea Kneen’s Avatar Malea Kneen
24th April 2023 at 22:39
Meanwhile, asked a favorite bartender to make this for me and it was excellent!
6th April 2023 at 00:45
OMG…this cocktail is to die for! ?
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
2nd April 2023 at 02:44
Send me to jail, that is delicious! Wish I could find the margarita bitters; I used lavender and orange.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
29th April 2023 at 23:17
Calvin, we got the Diffords Margarita and Daiquiri Bitters on Amazon.
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
9th April 2023 at 02:26
Thank's for the link Simon. I'm looking forward to trying the daiquiri bitters also.
Steven Jepson’s Avatar Steven Jepson
31st March 2023 at 20:48
very nice with a refreshing zing. the aquafaba brings a lovely thick texture