Naked & Famous
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 19.4% ABV ∙
The Naked & Famous is an IBA contemporary classic of equal parts mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and fresh lime juice, shaken into a cocktail glass. Smoky and bittersweet layers unfold in equal measure, with a bright citrus snap cutting through a lightly bitter, herbaceous finish that lingers.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Mezcal 22 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Yellow Chartreuse) 22 mlAperitivo 22 mlLime juice 22 ml
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass
Tips
- Use a joven or young mezcal rather than a heavily aged one, so the smoke stays balanced against the other three equal parts.
- Shake hard for a full 10-12 seconds — the equal-parts build needs firm dilution to knit four assertive flavors together.
- Pre-chill the glass before straining so the drink doesn't lose its chill the moment it's poured.
History
The Naked & Famous was created in 2011 by bartender Joaquín Simó at Death & Co in New York City. Simó built it as an equal-parts riff on the pre-Prohibition Last Word, swapping in mezcal for gin, and described the result as a combination of the Last Word and Sam Ross's Paper Plane. Its name comes from a lyric in "Tricky Kid," a 1996 song by the British artist Tricky, which Simó had listened to as a teenager.
Despite its association with Death & Co, the drink actually premiered elsewhere first — on the opening menus at Candelaria in Paris and Teardrop Lounge in Portland, Oregon — before becoming a fixture at Death & Co itself. It was later published in the 2014 book Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails. The International Bartenders Association added the Naked & Famous to its official cocktail list in 2020.
FAQ
What is in a Naked & Famous?
Equal parts mezcal, an herbal liqueur such as Yellow Chartreuse, an aperitivo, and fresh lime juice, shaken and strained up. The four components are poured in identical amounts, which is the drink's defining trait — no single ingredient is meant to lead.
Is a Naked & Famous shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lime juice needs the aeration and quick chill a shake provides; stirring would leave the drink flat and under-diluted.
How strong is a Naked & Famous?
About 19.4% ABV, which is moderate for an all-spirit-and-liqueur sour since the mezcal, Chartreuse, and aperitivo are all lower-proof than a straight base spirit pour.
How is a Naked & Famous different from a Last Word?
The Naked & Famous swaps the Last Word's gin for mezcal and its maraschino liqueur for an aperitivo, trading the Last Word's cherry-forward sweetness for smoke and bitter orange.
Can I use tequila instead of mezcal in a Naked & Famous?
You can, but the drink loses the smoky backbone that defines it. A reposado tequila keeps the agave character while giving a milder, less smoky result.
