Naked and Famous Cocktail: Recipe, Ingredients & History

Ask any bartender to name the most influential cocktail of the last decade, and you’ll hear the same answer: the Naked and Famous. The Martini and the Old Fashioned still get the headlines, but this equal-parts mezcal drink—born at Death & Co in 2011—quietly rewrote the rules for smoky, herbal cocktails.

IBA official cocktail since: 2011 ·
Standard serving size: 90 ml (equal parts) ·
ABV (approx): 23% (46 proof) ·
Calories per serving: ~100 kcal ·
Number of ingredients: 4

The snapshot above shows the four-ingredient simplicity that makes this drink a modern classic.

The implication: the Naked and Famous forced a smoky spirit—mezcal—into the IBA canon, proving that modern cocktails can earn their place alongside century-old classics.

What is the world’s most famous cocktail?

The Martini’s reign

• The Martini is often considered the most famous cocktail globally, with a history dating to the 1800s (Wikipedia (general cocktail encyclopedia)).
• Its gin-and-vermouth formula set the template for countless variations.

The Old Fashioned’s revival

• The Old Fashioned is the official cocktail of the IBA and a perennial favorite in modern bars (IBA World (official cocktail authority)).
• Its whiskey, sugar, bitters, and citrus peel structure remains the benchmark for balanced simplicity.

The Daiquiri’s simplicity

• The Daiquiri, popularized in the early 20th century, remains a benchmark for balance (Wikipedia (general cocktail encyclopedia)).
• Rum, lime, and sugar—three ingredients that have spawned a thousand riffs.

The pattern: each of these classics dominates because of its elegant structure. But ask the IBA, and the Naked and Famous—a smoky equal-parts drink—has been official since 2011, proving that “most famous” can include new contenders.

What are the 7 classic cocktails?

IBA official cocktail list criteria

• The IBA defines an official list of cocktails, but there is no universal “seven classic” list (IBA World (official cocktail authority)).
• The criteria include global recognition, consistency, and ability to be reproduced by any bartender.

The seven recognized by the IBA

• Commonly cited seven include the Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Negroni, and Margarita (Wikipedia (general cocktail encyclopedia)).
• The Naked and Famous is an IBA official cocktail but not one of the seven classics—it belongs to the “New Era” category.

The trade-off: the “seven classics” are a cultural shorthand, not a fixed canon. The IBA now recognizes over 80 official cocktails, including modern creations like the Naked and Famous.

What is the Naked and Famous cocktail?

Origin and creator

• The Naked and Famous was created by bartender Joaquín Simó at Death & Co. in New York City (Death & Co Market (the drink’s birthplace)).
• Simó described it as “the bastard child born out of an illicit Oaxacan love affair between the classic Last Word and the Paper Plane” (Death & Co Market (the drink’s birthplace)).

IBA designation

• It was named an IBA official cocktail in 2011, one of the first to feature mezcal as a base (IBA World (official cocktail authority)).
• The inclusion signaled a shift toward embracing agave spirits beyond tequila.

Flavor profile

• The cocktail is equal parts mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and fresh lime juice (IBA World (official cocktail authority)).
• Result: smoky, herbal, bitter-orange, and tart—a complex whole that is far greater than its parts.

The upshot: the IBA’s rigid spec ensures that every bartender from Tokyo to Tijuana can deliver the same experience—a rare consensus in cocktail culture.

How do you make a Naked and Famous cocktail?

Ingredient proportions

• 22.5 ml (3/4 oz) each of mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and fresh lime juice (Difford’s Guide (acclaimed cocktail reference)).
• The equal-parts formula makes scaling easy: for two drinks, use 45 ml each.

Step-by-step mixing

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well-chilled (IBA World (official cocktail authority)).
3. Double-strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.

Garnish and glassware

• No garnish is traditional, but a lime wheel or a thin slice can be added (Death & Co Market (the drink’s birthplace)).
• Express a lime twist over the surface to release oils before discarding.

The implication: the Naked and Famous is one of the fastest cocktails to replicate—30 seconds from shaker to coupe. That speed, combined with its high-proof punch, makes it a go-to for home hosts and professionals alike.

What ingredients define the Naked and Famous?

Mezcal: the smoky base

• Mezcal contributes a distinctive smokiness; traditionally Del Maguey Chichicapa is recommended but not required (Difford’s Guide (acclaimed cocktail reference)).
• Substituting with a less smoky mezcal (e.g., Vida) yields a milder profile.

Yellow Chartreuse: herbal sweetness

• Yellow Chartreuse is less potent (80 proof vs. 110 for green) and sweeter, providing herbal complexity (Difford’s Guide (acclaimed cocktail reference)).
• Substitute with génépy liqueur if needed, but the honeyed floral notes will differ.

Aperol: bitter orange note

• Aperol adds a bright orange bitterness that balances the smoky mezcal (A Bar Above (cocktail education platform)).
• Campari can replace it for a more bitter, higher-ABV variant—though the drink then becomes a “Naked and Famous with a twist.”

Lime juice: acidity

• Fresh lime juice is essential for acidity; bottled juice will significantly alter the flavor (Slightly Pretentious (home cocktail guide)).
• One lime typically yields the 22.5 ml needed—squeeze ahead of time.

The pattern: each ingredient plays a distinct role—smoke, sweet herb, bitter fruit, acid. Remove or swap any one, and the balance collapses. That fragility is exactly why it works.

“The bastard child born out of an illicit Oaxacan love affair between the classic Last Word and the Paper Plane.”

— Joaquín Simó, creator of the Naked and Famous (Death & Co Market (the drink’s birthplace))

“The Naked and Famous is a modern classic that showcases mezcal’s versatility within the equal-parts format.”

— IBA World description (IBA World (official cocktail authority))

For the home bartender looking to impress without spending hours on prep, the Naked and Famous is a goldmine: four ingredients, thirty seconds, one unforgettable sip. For the cocktail historian, it marks the moment mezcal moved from niche curiosity to IBA-validated classic. The choice is clear: shake one tonight, or wait another decade for the next equal-parts revolution.

Frequently asked questions