Easy Mezcal Sour Recipe for Day of the Dead
This mezcal sour is one of the best cocktails I’ve ever made! It’s a vibrant twist on a classic sour and I make it with fresh citrus juices, orange blossom water, and velvety egg white foam. Sound intimidating? With my step-by-step instructions, you’ll be sipping away in just about five minutes!
Whether you are shaking up drinks for a festive gathering, celebrating Día de los Muertos, or simply winding down on a weekend, this easy-to-follow mezcal sour recipe produces an ultra-smooth cocktail topped with a gorgeous, velvety white foam.
INSPIRATION FOR MY MEZCAL SOUR RECIPE
A few years ago, I learned to bake the most delectable pan de muerto to celebrate Day of the Dead. What we created with Mexican master baker Eliceo Lara wasn’t any old pan de muerto – this one was infused with orange blossom water and orange zest, highlighting subtle citrus and floral notes. I’ve created a cocktail inspired by ingredients in this traditional bread recipe and it’s to-die-for!
WHAT IS A MEZCAL SOUR?
Typically, a sour cocktail includes: alcohol (typically whiskey or pisco), a citrus element, something sweet, and egg white for that lovely foamy texture. I’ve swapped out the traditional spirits for mezcal, which adds smokiness, creating of lovely combination of flavors in this cocktail.
⭐️ FUN FACT: In the weeks leading up to Día de los Muertos each year, I take the time to build an altar honoring my father and other loved ones who have passed away. My children and I decorate sugar skulls and share stories of some of our deceased relatives’s favorite foods, pastimes, and music as we create our ofrenda.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
HOW DO I MAKE THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE FOAM IN A MEZCAL SOUR?
It’s easier than it looks and the magic ingredient is high-quality eggs! When you shake up this cocktail, the agitation of ingredients in the mixer allows for bits of air to form in the egg whites, creating a lovely airy white foam.
- Add citrus juices, alcohol, vanilla extract, orange blossom water, and egg whites to a cocktail shaker. Shake with no ice for 30 seconds. Add ice and shake an additional 30 seconds or until completely chilled.
- Strain equal amounts of the mixture into two glasses and top off with egg white foam, which will pour out of the shaker after the citrus juices.
- Garnish with a slice of dried orange peel dipped in water and coarse sugar, if desired. ¡Salud!
💡 PRO TIP: What makes this cocktail so special is its toppings – an extra frothy white foam topped with dried citrus slices dipped in coarse sugar.
LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION?
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- Dia de los Muertos: ‘Tree of Lives’ Celebrates Those Lost
- Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life!
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- 3 Foods Associated with Day of the Dead
- Sugar Skulls and Spirits: Decoding the Symbolism of Altar Items
Easy Mezcal Sour Recipe
Equipment
- Citrus press (optional)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces blood orange juice preferable freshly squeezed
- 4 ounces orange juice preferably freshly squeezed from Valencia oranges
- 1 key lime juice only
- 2 ounces mezcal
- ½ teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon orange blossom water
- 2 Nellie’s Free Range Eggs separate and keep egg whites
- Dried orange peels and coarse sugar for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add citrus juices, alcohol, vanilla extract, orange blossom water, and egg whites to a cocktail shaker. Shake with no ice for 30 seconds. Add ice and shake an additional 30 seconds or until completely chilled.
- Strain equal amounts of the mixture into two glasses and top off with egg white foam, which will pour out of the shaker after the citrus juices.
- Garnish with a slice of dried orange peel dipped in water and coarse sugar. ¡Salud!
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on October 19, 2021 and updated with more clear instructions and photos on September 17, 2026.
Many thanks to Nellie’s Free Range Eggs for sponsoring this post. As always, the recipe and opinions shared about these products are my own. To view the full lineup of Nellie’s Free Range products, egg recipes, or to view a store locator, visit nelliesfreerange.com.
Photography + Styling: Cacey McReavy
Lola Wiarco Dweck
Lola is a Mexican-American recipe developer, writer, and cooking instructor who loves sharing her culture with the world. Growing up in California and spending summers in Mexico, Lola celebrates her family’s Mexican recipes and vibrant culture through Lola’s Cocina.
