Name: Division Bell Mezcal Aperol Cocktail
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 oz Mezcal; 3/4 oz Aperol; 1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur; 3/4 oz Lime Juice; Dehydrated Lime Wheel (garnish)

The Division Bell Cocktail is our favourite boozy drink recipe featuring smoky Mezcal and eye-popping orange Aperol.

The well balanced craft cocktail combines Italian and Mexican flavours like smoky Mezcal, Aperol, Maraschino Liqueur and freshly squeezed lime juice.

The resulting taste is a smoky, sweet and citrusy infusion, which pours a pretty orange hue. If you call yourself a tequila fan we know you’ll love making this Mezcal Aperol Cocktail recipe at home!

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What Is A Division Bell Cocktail?

The Division Bell is credited for being one of the first craft cocktails in the US to put mezcal on the map.

The smoky tequila and Aperol riff on the Last Word was developed by mixologist Phil Ward, who opened the now-shuttered Mayahuel tequila bar in New York City’s East Village with partner Ravi DeRossi in 2009. At the time the average American associated Mezcal exclusively with the margarita.

The popular Mezcal Aperol Cocktail’s name pays homage to the Pink Floyd album of the same name, which Ward says he listened non-stop while he was constructing the bar.

Mezcal adds a desired smoky undertone to the drink while Aperol lends a bitter, citrusy note alongside the brightness of freshly squeezed lime juice and subtle sweetness of maraschino liqueur.

Traditional Division Bell Cocktail recipe ingredients.

What is Aperol?

Aperol is an Italian bitter apéritif made of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, among other ingredients. It has a vibrant orange hue. Its name comes from the French slang word for aperitif, which is apero.

Aperol was originally produced by the Barbieri company, based in Padua, but is now produced by the Campari Group.

While Aperol was originally created in 1919, by Luigi and Silvio Barbieri, it did not become successful until after World War II. Although it tastes and smells much like Campari, Aperol has an alcohol content of 11%, less than half that of Campari. Aperol and Campari have the same sugar content, and Aperol is less bitter in taste. Campari is also much darker in colour.

The Spritz, also known as Aperol Spritz, is the most famous Aperol-based cocktail. A more complex way to use the liqueur is by shaking it together in this Mezcal Aperol Cocktail called the Division Bell.

You may also enjoy these Aperol cocktails:

What Is Mezcal?

Wondering what the difference is between tequila and mezcal? Both spirits are produced exclusively in Mexico but have subtle differences worth noting.

Tequila can only be made from one kind of agave plant: Blue Weber Agave. Mezcal however can use any kind of agave plant. They’re all the same plant but they have different varieties. Mezcal is made from all 40 of them, and it can be made from wild and cultivated plants.

The taste of tequila and mezcal are also very different. Tequila is often described as having a spicy flavour, while mezcal has a smoky flavour. The reason Mezcal tastes smoky is because the piñas are roasted in an underground pit that’s covered with hot rocks for several days. The long roasting time gives mezcal its unique smoky flavour.

You may also enjoy these Mezcal cocktails:

What Is Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur?

The final liqueur you need to build a Division Bell cocktail is Maraschino liqueur.

Maraschino is a liqueur produced from the distillation of Marasca cherries. The small, slightly sour fruit of the Tapiwa cherry tree, which grows wild along parts of the Dalmatian coast, lends the liqueur its unique aroma.

Invented in Croatia, Maraschino is a clear, cherry-flavoured liqueur with a subtle sweetness boasting unique sour cherry and almond notes. Several brands produce Maraschino liqueur but the most famous is Luxardo, which we recommend using.

Many recipes before prohibition called for Maraschino, it was one of the most used and most important ingredients. In last few years, with the boom of the craft cocktail movement, Maraschino is regaining its former status as a must-have on any bar cart.

You may also enjoy these Maraschino liqueur cocktails:

The Division Bell is our favourite Mezcal Aperol Cocktail.

Mezcal Aperol Cocktail Ingredients

This sophisticated cocktail recipe is best served in an elegant coupe glass.

Mezcal: use a quality smoky Mezcal like Sombra or Del Maguey Vida Clásico.
Aperol: this popular orange-coloured Italian aperitif adds a slight bitterness and rhubarb flavour to the drink.
Maraschino Liqueur: sweeten the drink with the classic Croatian cherry-flavoured liqueur.
Lime Juice: always use freshly squeezed citrus never concentrate, you can taste the difference.
Garnish: decorate each glass with a grapefruit twist or dehydrated citrus wheel.

Serve a Division Bell Cocktail in an elegant coupe glass.

Directions

This Division Bell Cocktail is so easy to make at home, ready to serve in under 5 minutes!

PREPARE THE GLASS: Begin by preparing your cocktail glass. If desired, you can fill each coupe glass with ice to ensure they are well chilled. Set the glass aside while you prepare the drink.
SHAKE & STRAIN: Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and then add mezcal, aperol, maraschino, and lime juice. Secure the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds. This step is essential for chilling the ingredients and ensuring proper dilution. Once shaken, strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe.
GARNISH & SERVE: Decorate the rim of the glass with a grapefruit twist or dehydrated citrus wheel.

Full instructions are in the recipe card below.

Garnish this Division Bell Cocktail with a dehydrated lime wheel.

Division Bell Cocktail Recipe Tips

We suggest serving a Division Bell Cocktail in an elegant coupe glass.
While we like to use smoky Mezcal when making this cocktail you can have fun playing with the drink by using a well aged reposado or añejo.
Our recipe serves one person. If you’re hosting a large gathering feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of guests and muddle the drink in a festive punch bowl or jug rather than a cocktail shaker.
Feel free to add a few drops of your favourite flavoured bitters to give the drink additional complexity. Lemon, Rhubarb and Cherry Bitters work well.
You can level up this cocktail for a glamorous occasion by topping the drink with champagne sparkling wine.
An hour or two before you’re planning on serving drinks we suggest placing the mezcal, aperol and maraschino bottles in the freezer so they are well chilled.
If you find the drink too boozy feel free to add a splash of soda water.

Best Bartender Tools & Cocktail Equipment

Before hosting a swanky Mezcal Aperol cocktail party you’ll need to ensure you have the best bartender tools and cocktail equipment.

Cocktail Kit: cocktail kits are the perfect gift for newbie mixology fans as they include basic bartender tools like a jigger, shaker and spoon.
Cocktail Shaker: a bartender’s best friend. Purchase a premium cocktail shaker to muddle or shake up your favourite pink gin cocktails.
Cocktail Glassware: make sure your bar is stocked with a selection of unique glassware to show off your favourite cocktail creations.
Hawthorne Strainer: this unique strainer features tightly wound coils and perforated holes. It keeps ice and other large ingredients like lime wedges in your cocktail shaker rather than in the glass.
Bar Spoons: slender and long bar spoons are a must-have when stirring drinks.
Bottle Opener: easily open bottles of beer or cider with the flick of your wrist or purchase a corkscrew for fine wine.
Pouring Spout: once you’ve opened a new bottle of gin insert these affordable pourers to make cocktail assembly a breeze.
Cutting Board: purchase a petite cutting board for your bar to slice garnishes or citrus wedges like lime, orange, lemon or grapefruit.
Ice Bucket: chill bottles of gin quickly in an ice bucket or keep by the bar when muddling gin mixers into cool creations.
Ice Crusher: fans of the Mint Julep love an ice crusher.
Ice Cube Kit: we suggest purchasing a selection of ice cube trays. Silicone styles are our favourite as they’re easy to clean and are available in various shapes and sizes.
Jigger: use a jigger to accurately measure spirits, juices, syrups and shrubs.
Juicer: invest in an electronic juicer or buy an affordable hand-held to easily juice fresh citrus like lemons and limes.
Muddler: fans of the Mojito love a sturdy muddler to mix mint and lime. Muddler’s are handy for any cocktail featuring ingredients that need a pounding like fresh herbs or citrus wedges.
Citrus Peeler & Zester: adorn your craft cocktails with a thick citrus peel or finer ribbons of lime or lemon zest.
Rimmer: Bloody Mary and Caesar lovers should outfit their bar with a handy rimmer for salting and sugaring glassware.

This Mezcal Aperol Cocktail combines our favourite flavours from Mexico and Italy.

You May Also Enjoy These Cocktail Recipes…

We love serving this refreshing Division Bell Cocktail on a hot summer day.

When To Serve A Division Bell Cocktail

This sophisticated and refreshing cocktail can be enjoyed any time of year. We love to serve it as a:

Happy hour drink served alongside Mexican snacks like Gazpacho Moreliano, Spicy Chipotle Roasted Potatoes, Dry Roasted Salsa Mexicana, and Mango Pico de Gallo Salsa.
Classy guys or girls night beverage
Pre-drink at home before meeting friends at your local bar
Dinner party cocktail served with your favourite Mexican dishes like Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas, Albondigas al Chipotle Smoky Mexican Meatballs, and Asado de Boda Chile Pork Stew.

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How To Make An Easy Division Bell Cocktail Recipe

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