The Naked and Famous is a modern equal-parts sour built from mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime juice. It is smoky, herbal, bittersweet, and sharply citrusy, with every ingredient carrying equal structural weight.
Shake mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime juice with ice until well chilled. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Serve up in a chilled coupe glass. The drink should look clear and orange-gold, with Aperol providing color while Yellow Chartreuse and mezcal keep the profile aromatic and complex.
Pair it with tacos al pastor, grilled shrimp, smoked vegetables, spicy chicken, salty cheese, or citrus-led appetizers. Mezcal smoke, Aperol bitterness, Yellow Chartreuse herbs, and lime acidity work especially well with savory, spicy, and charred food.
The Naked and Famous was created by bartender Joaquin Simo in the late 2000s as a modern riff connected to the equal-parts sour family. Its structure echoes The Last Word, but replaces gin and maraschino with mezcal and Aperol for a smokier, more bittersweet profile.
Best for modern classic cocktail menus, aperitif service, agave-focused tastings, and moments where a sour should feel bitter, smoky, herbal, and precise rather than sweet or tropical.
Mezcal brings smoke and roasted agave, Yellow Chartreuse adds honeyed herbs and spice, Aperol gives orange bitterness, and lime juice provides sharp acidity. The finish should be tart, bittersweet, lightly smoky, and clean.
Modern, smoky, herbal, bittersweet, citrus-driven, and sharply balanced.
Keep the equal-parts build intact for the classic Naked and Famous profile. Changing the mezcal changes smoke intensity, while changing Yellow Chartreuse or Aperol quickly moves the drink away from its recognized modern-classic balance.
24%
⚠️ Alcoholic beverage: not suitable for minors, pregnant individuals, or designated drivers. Please enjoy responsibly.
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