Mezcal Martini Mocktail: A sopping wet style mocktail with smokey zero proof mezcal

I’m always a little sceptical and critical of celebrity non-alcoholic brands, but I know one thing for sure. Lewis Hamilton knows how to take the podium in both F1 and the zero proof spirits arena. I’m a big fan of his non-alcoholic tequila brand Almave, and they’re in the #1 spot on my best n/a tequilas list. The brand recently launched a third product in the form of a smoky mezcal spirit called Humo.

Don’t be fooled into trying this new product in a scratch margarita. It’s wildly different than the other zero proof tequilas you’re probably used to. It very smoky with a really nice gentle heat. It’s a little thinner than I expected (and wanted from a spirit) but the flavour is just dynamite.

What it IS perfect for is drinking on the rocks, as the flavour just begs to be enjoyed neat and slow. I loved it on it’s own and even adding a splash of lime juice almost ruined it for me.

Call me crazy, but I was also inspired to try this in a ‘sopping wet martini’ style mocktail. I thought the smoke and gentle heat would be a great backbone, and would pair nicely with a dry vermouth. I wasn’t wrong - this Mezcal Martini Mocktail turned out to be one of the best drinks I’ve made for awhile.

Dare I say I’ve cracked the code on a good non-alcoholic martini????

What is a sopping wet martini?

A sopping wet martini is technically a 1:1 ratio of gin to vermouth rather than the 2:1 ratio of a dry martini. It’s also very briny and can be fun to try with blue cheese brines or other flavours that complement the gin. For this non-alcoholic cocktail, I’m not using a 1:1 ratio so technically it’s not a soppy wet martini, but I wanted the mezcal to really pop and the balance of flavours with the mezccal and vermouth tastes less like a traditional martini and more like the sloppier ‘wet’ version.

What is mezcal and how is it different than tequila?

All tequilas are a mezcal but not all mezcals are tequilas. Mezcal is any spirit distilled from the agave plant, but tequila is specifically from the blue weber agave plant in specific regions of Mexico. Mezcal is more smoky because of the agave plant’s roasting process, whereas tequila is sweeter with a little bit more of a citrus bite. In the non-alcoholic tequila world, there is some controversy over calling things tequila because it’s not actually a blanket term, but it’s the name people recognize.

What non-alcoholic vermouth to use

I always rely on Roots Divino Blanco, a dry vermouth without alcohol, because it has the closest flavour to a real vermouth. It’s made in Greece and is probably the best option in the world for an n/a dry vermouth.

How to make a mezcal martini mocktail

Ingredients

4 oz Almave Humo
1/2 oz olive brine
1/2 oz Roots Divino Blanco Vermouth
1/2 oz Dhos Orange
Splash of jalapeño brine
Olives for garnish

Preparation

Shaking vs Stirring - Honestly, shake at your own risk - I think it ruins it. I stirred everything in a mixing glass with large chunks of ice, and then strained into a chilled martini glass. I added olives for garnish and et voila! A grown-up mocktail, a sophisticated sip, a unique flavour experience without alcohol.

I hope you like it!

Cheers!