Ingredients
Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Chill a coupe glass.
Combine mezcal, Aperol, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until well-chilled.
Double-strain into the chilled coupe glass.
Glassware
Served in a chilled coupe glass to enhance aromatics.
Garnish
Express oils over the drink, then drop in or discard
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use a quality espadín mezcal; Del Maguey Vida is the original and a great choice.
Freshly squeezed lime juice is non-negotiable for proper balance.
Shake vigorously with good quality ice to achieve the perfect chill and dilution.
Don't skip the grapefruit twist garnish; its expressed oils are integral to the aroma.
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Division Bell.
Other Variations
Drier Division Bell
Reduces the maraschino liqueur for a less sweet, more bitter-forward profile.
Changes
Sunset Bell
Substitutes Aperol with the more intensely bitter Campari for a bolder, more assertive flavor profile.
Changes
The Last Word
The classic Prohibition-era cocktail that inspired the Division Bell, using equal parts Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur, and Lime Juice.
Changes
History & Heritage
Created in 2009 by Phil Ward for his New York bar Mayahuel, the Division Bell is a modern classic that helped popularize mezcal. Named after a Pink Floyd album, it's a sophisticated riff on the Last Word, swapping gin for mezcal and Chartreuse for Aperol.
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Equal Parts Smoke
A modern conceptual cocktail embodying the elegant simplicity of equal-parts recipes with the dramatic flair of smoked cocktails. Built on the foundation of the Naked & Famous, it harmoniously balances smoky mezcal with herbal Chartreuse, bittersweet Aperol, and bright lime.
Green Chartreuse Naked and Famous
A bold, herbaceous variation of Joaquín Simó's modern classic, substituting Green Chartreuse for Yellow to create an intense, vegetal, and profoundly complex equal-parts cocktail with assertive mezcal.
Last of the Oaxacans
A modern classic that brilliantly substitutes the gin in a traditional Last Word with the smoky complexity of mezcal.
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