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Try sipping with orange wedges for the real taste of Mexico, or ease into the Mezcal world with a cocktail
Barrio [Official]

Swishing through the Twin Cities’s Finest Mezcal Cocktails

Explore this sometimes smokey spirit

by Cinnamon Janzer
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Try sipping with orange wedges for the real taste of Mexico, or ease into the Mezcal world with a cocktail
| Barrio [Official]
by Cinnamon Janzer

Mezcal, the Mexican made spirit is having a moment behind bars across the country and there are several local bars serving the good stuff.

Mezcal is a type of agave-derived spirit that’s often confused with tequila. The best way to think about the differences between the two is that all tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. The latter is made in a specific region of Mexico and distilled from blue agave only. Mexcals, on the other hand, can be made from a variety of agaves and run the spectrum from herbaceous on to smokey with some caramel-y derivatives peppered in there.

Ready to try this unique Mexican export? Here’s where to go.

Locations are organized from West to East.

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Colita

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At this newly opened hot spot, visitors can treat themselves to a mezcal old fashioned whipped up by Marco Zappia, recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for food and drink.

5400 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 886-1606
(612) 886-1606
Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

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Barrio

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Considering it’s a tequila joint, it’s no surprise that Barrio has a mezcal cocktail. The Up In Smoke pairs it with pineapple juice, fresh squeezed lime juice and some serrano pepper.

925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-9953
(612) 333-9953
Barrio [Official]

Hai Hai

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This award-winning Northeast outpost has two mezcal cocktails to go along with its Asian street food confections—the Hai Thai and A Life Aquatic.

2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 223-8640
(612) 223-8640
Kevin Kramer / Eater Twin Cities

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Jefe: Urban Hacienda

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Opened in 2016, Jefe brings latin flair to the St. Anthony Main waterfront. Along with the Mexican street food served, there is also a mezcal negroni and a smokey paloma featuring mezcal.

219 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 255-2000
(612) 255-2000
Jefe/Facebook

Centro at Popol Vuh

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This counter-service taco joint has not one but two mezcal cocktails on their list: The spicier Wahaka Flocka and the sweeter Guava Goodness Slushie. There’s also a mezcal on their $22 agave flight that comes with a side of sangria.

1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 345-5527
(612) 345-5527
A blonde wooden wraparound bar with blonde wooden stools, and a pink wall in the background with a bright mural. Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

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Pajarito

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While the habanero cilantro margarita is most people’s go-to order at Pajarito, the Chino Latino (for which their menu claims to be waiting for a cease and desist alert) mixes mezcal with pink guava and Thai basil syrup.

605 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 340-9545
(651) 340-9545
Pajarito/Facebook

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La Costa

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At La Costa, their namesake cocktail is the one that features mezcal mixed with fresh lime juice, champagne, and orange liqueur. There are also have seven different mezcals available.

194 Cesar Chavez St, St Paul, MN 55107
(651) 330-8743
(651) 330-8743
La Costa/Facebook

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Colita

5400 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419

At this newly opened hot spot, visitors can treat themselves to a mezcal old fashioned whipped up by Marco Zappia, recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for food and drink.

5400 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 886-1606
(612) 886-1606
Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

Barrio

925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402

Considering it’s a tequila joint, it’s no surprise that Barrio has a mezcal cocktail. The Up In Smoke pairs it with pineapple juice, fresh squeezed lime juice and some serrano pepper.

925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-9953
(612) 333-9953
Barrio [Official]

Hai Hai

2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

This award-winning Northeast outpost has two mezcal cocktails to go along with its Asian street food confections—the Hai Thai and A Life Aquatic.

2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 223-8640
(612) 223-8640
Kevin Kramer / Eater Twin Cities

Jefe: Urban Hacienda

219 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Opened in 2016, Jefe brings latin flair to the St. Anthony Main waterfront. Along with the Mexican street food served, there is also a mezcal negroni and a smokey paloma featuring mezcal.

219 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 255-2000
(612) 255-2000
Jefe/Facebook

Centro at Popol Vuh

1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

This counter-service taco joint has not one but two mezcal cocktails on their list: The spicier Wahaka Flocka and the sweeter Guava Goodness Slushie. There’s also a mezcal on their $22 agave flight that comes with a side of sangria.

1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 345-5527
(612) 345-5527
A blonde wooden wraparound bar with blonde wooden stools, and a pink wall in the background with a bright mural. Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

Pajarito

605 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

While the habanero cilantro margarita is most people’s go-to order at Pajarito, the Chino Latino (for which their menu claims to be waiting for a cease and desist alert) mixes mezcal with pink guava and Thai basil syrup.

605 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 340-9545
(651) 340-9545
Pajarito/Facebook

La Costa

194 Cesar Chavez St, St Paul, MN 55107

At La Costa, their namesake cocktail is the one that features mezcal mixed with fresh lime juice, champagne, and orange liqueur. There are also have seven different mezcals available.

194 Cesar Chavez St, St Paul, MN 55107
(651) 330-8743
(651) 330-8743
La Costa/Facebook

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