🥃 Naked and Famous
Modern classic of mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and lime juice in equal parts; created in 2011 by Joaquín Simó at the New York bar Death & Co.
Naked and Famous is a modern classic cocktail of mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and fresh lime juice in equal parts. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) places it in the «New Era» category. The IBA recipe uses 22.5 ml of each ingredient; they are shaken with ice and strained into a chilled glass.
Author. According to Difford's Guide, the cocktail was created in 2011 by Joaquín Simó at the New York bar Death & Co., where he was part of the opening team. The original recipe used Del Maguey Chichicapa mezcal. According to the same source, the name comes from a song by the artist Tricky.
Lineage. The recipe follows the pattern of the Last Word: four equal ingredients in which a strong spirit, a herbal liqueur, a bitter aperitif and lime balance one another. Mezcal replaces gin, yellow Chartreuse replaces green, and a bitter orange aperitif replaces maraschino. The drink became known as the earthy, smoky version of the bittersweet, citrusy Last Word.
Taste. Mezcal gives a smoky, earthy tone, yellow Chartreuse gives mint and honey, Aperol gives bitter orange, and lime gives sourness. Difford's Guide notes that the drink ranked high in its popularity charts: second place in 2022 and third in 2023 and 2024. The recipe is easy to remember, so it is often changed: bartenders try other agave spirits and bitter aperitifs.
Why this matters to you. Equal parts give a balanced taste, but the strength is no lower for it: mezcal and yellow Chartreuse are strong spirits. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 2011, Death & Co., New York (Joaquín Simó) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, lime juice — equal parts (22.5 ml each per IBA) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Naked and Famous → made from → 🌵 Agave: tequila and mezcal → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🌵 Mezcal, 🌵 Agave: tequila and mezcal, 🥃 Aperol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🌵 Mezcal
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Last Word, 🌵 Tequila, 🥃 Paper Plane, 🥃 Paper Plane, 🥃 Old Fashioned, 🥃 Old Fashioned, 🥃 Last Word
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Naked and Famous is a variation of the Last Word?
Yes, it is its modern «successor»: according to Difford's Guide, an earthy, smoky mezcal version of the bitter citrus Last Word, with the same equal-parts structure.
What goes into a Naked and Famous according to the IBA?
Mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and fresh lime juice, 22.5 ml of each.
Who created the Naked and Famous, and when?
Joaquín Simó, in 2011, at the New York bar Death & Co., according to Difford's Guide.
Where does the name Naked and Famous come from?
According to Difford's Guide, it is the title of a song by the artist Tricky.
What can replace the mezcal in this cocktail?
The taste will change: without smoky mezcal, for example with tequila, the cocktail will no longer be recognisable.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌵 Tequila — A Mexican distillate of blue Weber agave: at least 51% of the sugars from agave, 35–55% vol.; appellation of origin since 1974.
- 🌵 Agave: tequila and mezcal — Mexican agave spirits, tequila and mezcal: under Mexican rules strength is from 35% vol., and tequila is made from agave.
- 🥃 Old Fashioned — Classic cocktail of bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters and water; the IBA recipe uses 45 ml of whiskey; the name appeared in the 1870s, when guests asked for an «old-fashioned» whiskey cocktail.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Paper Plane · 🥃 Old Fashioned · 🥃 Pisco Sour · 🥃 Monkey Gland · 🥃 Last Word · 🥃 Margarita
Sources
- IBA — International Bartenders Association: Naked and Famous (New Era; 22.5 ml each mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, fresh lime juice; shake with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass)
- Difford's Guide: Naked and Famous cocktail — created 2011 by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co., New York; originally with Del Maguey Chichicapa mezcal; name from a Tricky song title; an earthy, smoky bittersweet Last Word riff
- Difford's Guide: Joaquín Simó — from Ecuador to Daiquiris (opening staff at Death & Co., American Bartender of the Year, Spirited Awards 2012)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)