Naked and Famous: How to Make This Unique Contemporary Cocktail & Other Drinks with Uncommon Ingredients
The Naked and Famous cocktail is a modern classic. Created by Joaquin Simo of New York City’s Pouring Ribbons bar, this unique drink has become popular among craft cocktail enthusiasts for its combination of smoky mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime juice. The result is a complex yet balanced blend of sweet and tart flavors with an earthy finish.
Though the Naked and Famous may be relatively new as cocktails go – having only been around since 2012 – it can trace its origins back centuries. While some ingredients may have changed over time (mezcal wasn’t widely available until recently), all four components are in fact derived from recipes that date back hundreds of years. With such a strong heritage, it’s no wonder why this contemporary concoction has won such widespread acclaim.
If you’re looking to explore more inventive drinks made with uncommon ingredients, there are plenty out there! From craft beer mixed drinks to other creative cocktails like the Blinker or Bee’s Knees – which use rye whiskey instead of gin – these fun recipes offer up a world full of flavor that will tantalize your taste buds! All you need is access to quality spirits plus some creativity – so grab those glassware pieces out of the cupboard and start mixing up something special today!
Naked and Famous Recipe:
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- -1 ½ oz. mezcal preferably Del Maguey Vida
- -¾ oz. Aperol
- -¾ oz. yellow Chartreuse
- -¼ oz. Luxardo maraschino liqueur
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add the mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse, and Luxardo maraschino liqueur to the shaker. 2. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds until well blended and chilled. 3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes and serve immediately!
Glassware
The typical or usual glassware used for the subject of contemporary cocktails and drinks is usually a short tumbler, highball glass, or rocks glass. The short tumbler is typically used for full-bodied cocktails such as manhattans and martinis. Highball glasses are often used for lighter drinks like gin and tonics, while a rocks glass is often used to serve whiskey on the rocks. For making the Naked and Famous cocktail specifically, you’ll want either a highball or rocks glass with ice cubes in it.Flavors
The Naked and Famous cocktail is a unique contemporary concoction that features an unlikely combination of ingredients. Not only does this drink have the perfect sweet-tart flavor balance, but it also has interesting herbal notes that make it complex and delicious. The sweetness comes from the agave nectar or simple syrup, which helps to offset the tartness of lime juice. The herbal flavors come from yellow Chartreuse liqueur, which adds its own distinct aroma and taste.
Other uncommon ingredients found in many creative cocktails include egg whites for foaminess, absinthe for a hint of licorice flavor, ginger beer for spice and bite, as well as aromatic bitters like Angostura to add complexity to your drinks. These ingredients can be combined with classic spirits like vodka or whiskey to create unique tasting cocktails that are sure to impress your guests!
3 tips for Making Your Naked and Famous
- When shopping for mezcal, look for brands that use 100% agave in their production process and are certified by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT).
- Luxardo maraschino liqueur is best used as an accent flavor and should be added to other ingredients sparingly.
- For a sweeter cocktail, opt for yellow Chartreuse instead of green Chartreuse which has a more herbal flavor profile.