About the Illegal cocktail
The Illegal is a contemporary classic made with mezcal, overproof rum, falernum, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup. It is bright, smoky, tropical, and complex, with mezcal bringing roasted agave depth, rum adding strength, falernum contributing warm Caribbean spice, and lime keeping the drink sharp and refreshing.
Despite its Mexican and Caribbean ingredients, the Illegal cocktail was created in a small village in northern Italy. According to the story, a visiting American guest described his love of Daiquiri-style drinks from Latin America, inspiring the bartender to create this variation on the spot. After tasting it, the guest supposedly said it was “so good that it must be illegal,” giving the drink its name. The cocktail was added to the IBA list in 2020, making it one of the newer modern classics.
