Lazy Lover

The Lazy Lover is a sophisticated modern cocktail that perfectly balances the earthiness of tequila and smokiness of mezcal with the vibrant heat of jalapeño. Fresh lime juice provides a classic sour backbone, while agave nectar adds a touch of sweetness and celery bitters contribute a subtle, savory complexity. It's a bold, refreshing, and layered drink for those who enjoy a bit of spice.
Lazy Lover

Preparation

Preparation time: 4 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Lazy Lover is classified as a modern classic cocktail, belonging to the sour family with its tequila base and spicy, smoky elements.

Serving

Served cold in a chilled coupe glass, this is a spirit-forward but refreshing cocktail with a moderate alcohol content.
Serving size
Approximately 120 ml / 4 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

Created by Dev Johnson at the legendary New York City bar Employees Only, the Lazy Lover is a testament to the modern craft cocktail movement. It showcases how tequila can be used in complex, savory, and spicy drinks beyond the classic Margarita. The name itself evokes a sense of sultry, laid-back heat, perfectly matching the cocktail's flavor profile.
Origin
New York City, USA, created in the late 2000s at the bar Employees Only by Dev Johnson.

Lazy Lover

This cocktail is consistently known by its original name, Lazy Lover, without any common alternative names or nicknames.
Original name
Lazy Lover

Characteristics overview

This cocktail presents a spicy and smoky flavor profile balanced by citrus sourness, with a clean, warming aftertaste. Its appearance is a pale, slightly cloudy green-yellow, served still and crisp.
Flavor
Spicy, smoky, citrusy, vegetal, agave-forward, savory
Aroma
Fresh jalapeño, smoky mezcal, lime zest, earthy tequila
Taste balance
Sour, spicy, slightly sweet
Aftertaste
Lingering warmth, clean, smoky
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale green-yellow, slightly cloudy
Texture
Smooth, crisp
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery, all-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

A flavor-intense drink, dominated by sour and spicy notes with a moderate alcohol presence and a hint of sweetness. It is a still, non-creamy cocktail.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires reposado tequila and mezcal as its base, mixed with fresh lime juice, agave nectar, and a dash of celery bitters. Fresh jalapeño slices are muddled to provide its signature heat.
  • Reposado Tequila45 ml / 1.5 oz
    A silver (blanco) tequila can be used for a crisper taste.
  • Mezcal15 ml / 0.5 oz
    A joven (unaged) mezcal works best to provide smokiness.
  • Fresh Lime Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly squeezed is essential for the best flavor.
  • Agave Nectar15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Can be substituted with simple syrup, though agave complements the tequila better.
  • Jalapeño Slices2-3 slices
    Remove seeds for less heat. Adjust quantity to your preferred spice level.
  • Celery Bitters1 dash
    Adds a unique savory, vegetal note that ties the drink together.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker set including a muddler, jigger, and two types of strainers (Hawthorne and fine-mesh) to prepare this drink properly.
  • Cocktail shaker - for shaking all ingredients with ice.
  • Muddler - for pressing the jalapeño slices.
  • Jigger - for measuring ingredients accurately.
  • Hawthorne strainer - for straining from the shaker.
  • Fine-mesh strainer - for double straining to remove jalapeño bits.

Instructions

The process involves chilling a glass, gently muddling jalapeño in a shaker, adding all other liquid ingredients and ice, shaking well, and then double straining into the chilled glass.
1. Chill your coupe glass by filling it with ice and water or placing it in the freezer.
2. Place 2-3 slices of jalapeño in the bottom of your cocktail shaker.
3. Gently muddle the jalapeño slices to release their oils and spice. Do not pulverize them.
4. Add the reposado tequila, mezcal, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, and celery bitters to the shaker.
5. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
6. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
7. Empty the ice from your chilled coupe glass.
8. Double strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into the chilled coupe glass.
9. Garnish by floating a single cilantro leaf on the center of the drink's surface.

Garnishing

A single, fresh cilantro leaf floated on top provides an aromatic and visual contrast to the spicy drink.
  • Cilantro Leaf - float a single fresh cilantro leaf on the surface of the drink.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is generally free from common allergens like caffeine, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten, and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail contains approximately 190-220 calories per serving, with a moderate sugar and carbohydrate content primarily from the agave nectar and lime juice.
Calories
Averagely 190-220 kcal / 795-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 12-15 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 10-13 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect for a lively cocktail party or a sophisticated happy hour. Its refreshing yet spicy character also makes it an excellent choice for a warm summer evening.
  • Cocktail Party
  • Happy Hour
  • Summer Evening
  • Spicy Food Pairing

Pairing suggestions

The Lazy Lover's spicy and citrusy profile pairs wonderfully with Mexican and Latin American cuisine. It cuts through the richness of dishes like tacos al pastor while complementing the freshness of ceviche or guacamole.
  • Tacos al pastor
  • Ceviche
  • Guacamole and chips
  • Spicy grilled shrimp

The Lazy Lover: A Seductive Dance of Smoke and Spice

The Lazy Lover is a perfectly crafted modern sour that showcases the synergy between tequila, mezcal, and spice. Created by Dev Johnson at Employees Only, it balances smoky, spicy, and sour notes with a vegetal complexity from celery bitters. It is shaken and served straight up in a coupe glass, offering a refreshing yet potent experience. A true modern classic, it's a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a sophisticated, spicy cocktail.

Similar cocktails

Spicy Margarita

Typically lacks mezcal and celery bitters, often using orange liqueur and a salted rim.

Siesta

Also a tequila sour, but gets its complexity from Campari and grapefruit juice instead of smoke and spice.

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