Preparation
- Chill the serving glass beforehand. Add the ingredients, including the intended pasteurized egg product, to the shaker. Optional ingredients may be omitted.
- Shake especially vigorously with plenty of ice so the ingredients combine and air is worked in.
- Strain through a sieve into the chilled glass, leaving the shaken ice behind.
What does it taste like?
Smoke leads the way. It comes from the mezcal, an agave spirit, and is already present on the nose. In the mouth, the lime follows immediately with clear acidity. The sugar syrup and falernum catch it and bring sweet spice notes along. Behind that stands the Jamaican rum, high-proof; you notice a strong, almost sharp warmth in the finish. A bar spoon of cherry liqueur rounds things off only quietly. With egg white, the surface turns creamy and the drink feels softer, even though nothing changes in terms of alcohol. Short, cold, and remarkably intense.
When does it work best?
Not the best first cocktail to try in life. Smoke and overproof rum are bold flavors that take some getting used to. If you like mezcal or smoky whisky, this is exactly right for you. As a short drink before a meal, it wakes you up and sparks curiosity. It also works after a meal, but then just one is better. Everyone else should try a milder sour first.
What matters
Overproof means: noticeably more alcohol than usual. A regular white rum is no substitute—the drink loses its core character without it. Both mezcal and rum should remain recognizable, so stick precisely to the measurements. Shake longer and harder than usual, especially with egg white. Use only pasteurized egg white from a bottle. If you don't have any, simply leave it out.
Where the drink comes from
There's no confirmed origin story for the Illegal. Who first mixed it isn't documented. What is clear is where it comes from: modern bar culture that brings mezcal together with classic sour and Tiki flavors. Smoky agave spirit, strong Jamaican rum, and falernum are exactly this blended style. The name shouldn't be overinterpreted. It says nothing about whether anything about the drink was ever prohibited. Nor does it allow any reliable connection to a similarly named brand.