New York City, USA · 2012

Illegal

The Illegal is a mezcal-based sour that swaps out the usual orange liqueur for yellow Chartreuse, giving it a smoky, herbal kick.

smokyherbalsourmezcalchartreusehoneycomplexsipping

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits you with tart lime and a rush of smoky mezcal. Mid-palate, the honey and Chartreuse bring in a thick, herbal sweetness that coats your tongue. The finish is long and warm, with the smoke and herbs lingering long after you set the glass down.

Who will like it

This is for people who like smoky, herbal drinks with a tart edge, like a Mezcal Sour or a Last Word.

When to drink

Serve this as a late afternoon sipper or a dinner party starter when you want something bold to wake up the palate.

Ordering tip

If your bar doesn't carry yellow Chartreuse, ask for green, but know the drink will turn out sharper and much more herbal.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $4–$6Glass: CoupeBatch-friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This drink hits you with a wall of smoke and lime up front, then settles into a thick, herbal sweetness from the Chartreuse and honey. It's a strong, sipping drink that changes as it warms up in the glass. The sourness keeps the sweetness in check, but the smoke and herbs are the real stars. Every sip feels a little different as the yellow Chartreuse unfolds.

Finish: The finish runs long and warm, with smoky agave and sweet herbal notes lingering on the back of your tongue.

Primary tastes

smokyherbalsour

Secondary

sweetearthy

Aroma

smoky mezcalsweet herbscitrus zest

Bitternessmildly bitter
The Chartreuse brings a faint herbal bitterness, but it stays in the background behind the smoke and acid.
Sweetnessnoticeably sweet
The honey syrup and the sweeter yellow Chartreuse give this drink a rounded, upfront sweetness.
Sournessmoderately sour
The lime juice brings a sharp tartness that cuts right through the richer, sweeter ingredients.
Strengthfairly strong
With a full pour of mezcal and a heavy hit of Chartreuse, this drink has a solid alcoholic warmth.
Refreshingmoderately refreshing
The lime and chill help, but the heavy smoke and rich liqueur make this more of a sipping drink than a thirst-quencher.
Smokinessvery smoky
The mezcal pushes a strong, campfire-like smoke that sits front and center from the first sip to the finish.
Creaminesslight body
The honey gives a bit of weight to the texture, but the drink stays sharp and lean rather than creamy.
Complexityhighly complex
The mix of roasted agave smoke, dozens of Chartreuse herbs, and tart lime creates a shifting, layered taste.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on Mezcal. Espadín works well here; you want some smoke but not so much it buries the Chartreuse

Before you start

Make your honey syrup first if you don't have any, and squeeze your lime juice fresh. Put your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes if you have the time.

Ingredients

MezcalBase Spirit45ml
Yellow ChartreuseLiqueur30ml
Fresh Lime JuiceJuice22.5ml
Honey SyrupSyrupEqual parts honey and warm water, stirred until dissolved15ml

Garnish: Lime wheel

Tools

Cocktail Shaker · Shaking
To shake and chill the drink while blending the thick honey syrup and lime juice with the spirits
At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the spirits, juice, and syrup accurately
At home: A measuring spoon set or small liquid measuring cup
Hawthorne Strainer · Straining
To catch the ice and any small shards when pouring the drink into the glass
At home: A slotted spoon or fine mesh sieve
Coupe Glass · Serving
To serve the drink chilled and without ice, keeping the focus on the flavor
At home: A small wine glass or a shallow bowl-shaped glass
Fine Mesh Strainer · optional · Straining
To double strain the drink and keep out tiny ice chips and citrus pulp
At home: A regular kitchen sieve

Steps

1
Measure 45ml mezcal, 30ml yellow Chartreuse, 22.5ml fresh lime juice, and 15ml honey syrup, and pour them all into your empty shaker. The honey syrup is thick, so hold the jigger at eye level to make sure you get the right amount.
!Using straight honey instead of honey syrup will leave a sticky lump at the bottom of the shaker.
2
Fill the shaker most of the way with ice, using big solid cubes if you have them. Close the shaker tight and shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds. You'll know you're done when the metal outside of the shaker feels freezing cold and frost starts forming on the outside.
~12s
!Shaking too gently won't break down the honey syrup, leaving the drink tasting unbalanced.
3
Pop the top off the shaker and pour the drink through a Hawthorne strainer into your chilled coupe glass. If you hate little bits of ice floating in your drink, hold a small fine mesh strainer over the glass and pour through both at the same time.
!Pouring too fast can splash the drink over the rim of the small glass.
4
Take a thin lime wheel and cut a small slit from the center to the edge so it sits on the rim of the glass. Place it on the edge and serve it right away while it's still very cold.
!Leaving the drink sitting out too long before drinking lets the ice shards melt and water it down.

Serve

Serve it right after straining while it's icy cold. The coupe glass keeps the herbal aroma close to your nose as you drink.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Yellow Chartreuse

Yellow ChartreuseGreen Chartreuse
Match
Specialty availability
Yellow Chartreuse → Green Chartreuse: Makes the drink sharper, drier, and much more intensely herbal, overpowering the mezcal a bit.
Yellow ChartreuseDrambuie
Match
Common availability
Yellow Chartreuse → Drambuie: Swaps the herbal notes for a sweeter, honeyed Scotch profile that blends smoothly with the smoke.

Swap options for Mezcal

MezcalBlanco Tequila
Match
Common availability
Mezcal → Blanco Tequila: Removes the smoky character entirely, turning it into a bright, herbal tequila sour.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Mezcal Sour

The Mezcal Sour skips the Chartreuse entirely, letting the pure agave and honey shine.

Match

The Mezcal Sour is cleaner and more focused on the roasted agave, while the Illegal is richer and more complex from the Chartreuse.

In common: Shaken sour format, Smoky agave base, Honey sweetness

Ingredients

Both share

Mezcal, Fresh Lime Juice, Honey Syrup

Only in Illegal

Yellow Chartreuse

The Illegal adds yellow Chartreuse to the standard Mezcal Sour template, pushing the drink into heavier, more herbal territory.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Smoky agave backbone, Tart lime bite, Honey sweetness

How Mezcal Sour differs

More herbal, Sweeter mid-palate, Longer, spiced finish

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Chartreuse Swizzle

The Swizzle uses yellow Chartreuse as the base spirit instead of mezcal, dropping the smoke entirely.

Match

The Swizzle is a lighter, taller, and purely herbal drink, while the Illegal is a short, smoky, and heavier sipper.

In common: Yellow Chartreuse forward, Lime and honey balance, Herbal profile

Ingredients

Both share

Yellow Chartreuse, Fresh Lime Juice, Honey Syrup

Only in Illegal

Mezcal

The Illegal swaps the Chartreuse from the base to a modifier role, using mezcal to add smoke and depth.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Sweet herbal liqueur flavor, Tart lime acidity, Honey roundness

How Chartreuse Swizzle differs

Smoky, Stronger agave punch, Less refreshing

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Last Word

The Last Word uses green Chartreuse and gin for a drier, more bitter, and sharply botanical profile.

Match

The Last Word is sharp, dry, and botanical, while the Illegal is smoky, sweeter, and rounder on the palate.

In common: Herbal liqueur component, Lime juice acidity, Shaken and served up

Ingredients

Both share

Fresh Lime Juice

Only in Illegal

Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Honey Syrup

Only in Last Word

Green Chartreuse, Gin, Maraschino Liqueur

The Illegal replaces the gin and maraschino with mezcal and honey, and swaps green Chartreuse for the sweeter yellow variety.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Herbal liqueur presence, Citrus tartness

How Last Word differs

Smoky instead of juniper, Sweeter and less bitter, No nutty cherry note

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

Jim Meehan created the Illegal at PDT in New York City for his 2012 book. The name is a nod to the historical controversies surrounding mezcal production and the drink's outlaw spirit.

Creator: Jim Meehan, PDT
Era: 2010s
Confidence

The recipe is well-documented from Jim Meehan's PDT book, though some bars adjust the lime and honey ratios slightly.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use equal parts honey and warm water to make a syrup that mixes easily.
Yellow Chartreuse is sweeter and milder than green, so don't swap without adjusting.
Shake hard to make sure the honey syrup blends completely into the drink.
A double strain keeps the drink smooth by catching tiny ice chips and lime pulp.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't use store-bought lime juice; it tastes flat and metallic.
Don't skip the honey syrup and use straight honey; it won't dissolve.
Don't over-shake or the ice will water down the drink too much.