A summer Don Catrin cocktail built around fruit, citrus, cold glass, and the savory ritual of worm salt.
Story
Summer cocktails work best when they feel fresh, cold, and effortless. This strawberry basil mezcal smash is built around that idea: ripe berries, fresh herbs, lime, and just enough agave sweetness to hold everything together.
Mezcal gives the drink a smoky backbone, while basil keeps it green and aromatic. The worm salt rim matters here because strawberries can lean sweet; the savory edge brings the fruit back into balance and makes the first sip feel alive.
It is the kind of drink that belongs outside, with condensation on the glass and a table full of small plates.
Yield: 1 cocktail | Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 oz mezcal joven
- 3 fresh strawberries, hulled
- 4 fresh basil leaves
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz agave nectar
- 1 oz sparkling water
- Worm salt, for the rim
- Ice
Method
- Rim a rocks glass with lime and dip it into worm salt.
- In a shaker, gently muddle strawberries, basil, lime juice, and agave.
- Add mezcal and ice, then shake until well chilled.
- Strain over fresh ice and top with sparkling water.
To Serve
Garnish with a small strawberry, a basil leaf, and a light pinch of worm salt on one side of the rim.
Notes & Variations
- Use blanco tequila instead of mezcal for a cleaner, brighter version.
- Add one thin jalapeno slice while muddling if you want a little heat.
Ritual
Take the first sip from the salted side so the rim meets the strawberry before the smoke arrives. Then turn the glass and let the basil open up with each sip.
Explore More
See the full cocktail collection in our Worm Salt Recipes guide, or start at the main Recipes hub.
New to the ritual? Read What is Worm Salt?.
Ready to stock your bar? Explore Don Catrin Sal de Gusano.
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Please enjoy responsibly.