speakeater.
Mixologist · 2011 · Manhattan

Naked & Famous.

Joaquín Simó wrote it as the bastard child of the Last Word and the Paper Plane. Equal parts. Mezcal smoke, Chartreuse herbs, Aperol.

Spirit
Mezcal
Glass
Coupe
ABV
~24%
Prep
3 min
Era
Mixologist
Quick answer

The Naked & Famous is a mixologist cocktail from Manhattan, 2011. Built on mezcal, served in a coupe, around 24% ABV. Joaquín Simó wrote it as the bastard child of the Last Word and the Paper Plane. Equal parts. Mezcal smoke, Chartreuse herbs, Aperol bitter, lime acid.

Ingredients

What goes in a Naked & Famous?

Method

How do you make a Naked & Famous?

  1. Add all four ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake hard until very cold.
  3. Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
Pair it with dinner Mole-rubbed pork or chili-rubbed lamb. Mezcal and mole speak.
Bartender's notes

What should you know before making a Naked & Famous?

History

Where did the Naked & Famous come from?

Joaquín Simó wrote it as the bastard child of the Last Word and the Paper Plane. Equal parts. Mezcal smoke, Chartreuse herbs, Aperol bitter, lime acid. A modern classic that will outlive the rest of us. Simó named it after the Tricky song, which was on the bar's playlist when he built the drink.

According to Joaquín Simó, Death & Co., Manhattan, 2011.

Variations

What cocktails are similar to a Naked & Famous?

Single Village Mezcal
Use a single-village mezcal (San Luis del Río, San Baltazar) instead of an industrial joven. Adds terroir.
Tequila Naked & Famous
Reposado tequila instead of mezcal. Lighter, smoother, less smoke.
FAQ

Common questions.

What is in a Naked & Famous cocktail?

Equal parts (three-quarters of an ounce each) mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and fresh lime juice. Shaken with ice and double-strained into a coupe.

Who invented the Naked & Famous cocktail?

Joaquín Simó at Death & Co. in Manhattan, in 2011. Named for the Tricky song that was playing in the bar.

What mezcal should I use for a Naked & Famous?

A joven (unaged) mezcal with moderate smoke. Del Maguey Vida is the bartender default. Banhez Joven and Mezcal Vago Elote are also strong picks.

What's the difference between yellow and green Chartreuse?

Yellow is 80 proof, sweeter, with honey and saffron notes. Green is 110 proof, more herbaceous, more bitter. They are not interchangeable in cocktails.

Kyle Schulgen Founder, Speakeater
Builder of Speakeater, the cooking app for people tired of asking what's for dinner. Hand-transcribes pre-Prohibition cocktail manuscripts as a hobby, ships them in the app's cellar.
Last updated: 2026-05-02

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