Naked & Famous
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 18.3% ABV ∙
The Naked & Famous is an IBA New Era cocktail of equal parts mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and fresh lime juice, shaken into a cocktail glass.
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 young (joven) mezcal: its smoke should sit level with the other three 22 ml parts, not run over them.
- Give it a hard 10-12 second shake; four strong flavors in equal measure need that much water to come together as one drink.
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 menu at Candelaria in Paris and at 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, 22 ml each. No single ingredient is meant to lead; the equal measures are the point of the drink.
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 18.3% ABV, moderate for a sour, since the mezcal is only one of four equal parts.
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 you lose the smoke that defines the drink. A reposado tequila keeps the agave character and gives a milder, less smoky result.
