Illegal
Contrary to its name, there is nothing risque or illegal about this cocktail, perhaps that is the charm of this one. It is one of the newer cocktails to be recognised by the IBA and isn’t as popular to have been immortalized by Hollywood or achieved some kind of record. However, it does resemble Hemingway’s daiquiri which he preferred without the sweetness and more booze. A typical Illegal cocktail is made up of mezcal, an agave-based alcohol, rum, maraschino liqueur and other ingredients. Unlike the Hemingway with a brilliant cloudy appearance with a remarkable taste, it is nothing similar to the Illegal which has a distinct flavour profile with smoky and citrusy notes.
There is not much information on the origin of this cocktail, but word has it that the clay mugs it was traditionally served in were akin to the same ones used to drink ancient drinks of the Myanads and also the Cuban revolutionary drink called Canchanchara. Much else remains a mystery and it is likely this drink has survived via oral history.
The list of ingredients is quite long when compared to other drinks but this cocktail feels like a celebration of summer barbeques, sunshine, and beaches. The base of the Illegal cocktail is Mezcal which is an agave-based Mexican spirit because of which the liquor and this cocktail have a strong smoky flavour. Besides Tequila, Mezcal is the second most important spirit export from Mexico. And although Tequila is technically also a Mezcal, there are some differences in what defines both spirits.
Mezcal is not the only high-proof alcoholic ingredient in this drink. White Jamaican Rum is also part of the recipe giving it the extra boozy kick. White Rums are typically relatively clean, fresh, and crisp, which adds a touch of freshness and some fruity notes to the drink. The Illegal Cocktail calls for an overproof Rum, meaning it should have more than 100 proof - that equals 50 percent ABV.
The third most important ingredient is the Maraschino liqueur – an Italian high-proof liqueur made from the Marasca cherries. Apart from a telltale cherry aroma, you can taste the nuttiness of almonds, especially when you try this liqueur neat. The Maraschino liqueur is quite dry and bitter and far less sugary than you might expect from a cherry liqueur.
As for the sweet part, the Illegal gets its sweetness from two different ingredients: Falernum and simple syrup; the latter is regular sugar syrup. Falernum, in turn, is pretty popular in Tiki cocktail culture and features a long list of spices and fruity ingredients. Freshly squeezed lime juice balances these sweet components and helps to bring all the different flavours together. As always, when making high-quality cocktails, the lime juice should be freshly squeezed.
Ingredients
Method
1. Grab a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice.
2. Pour all the ingredients one by one and shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
