Black Flannel Academy

Illegal

Agave · Lime · Mezcal · Sour · Tart & refreshing
Illegal cocktail photograph
Photo: Illegal cocktail.jpg — BanjoZebra · CC BY 4.0. Resized for display; photo remains under its stated license.

Mezcal and overproof Jamaican rum meet lime, falernum and maraschino; proof and fermentation character require careful dilution.

IBA published specification · 1 reference serve.

Glassware

Cocktail glass

Technique

Shake

Ice

None in serving glass

Garnish

None specified

Preparation effort

High

Ingredients & measurements

Ingredient mL US fl oz Source measure / qualification
Espadin Mezcal 30 1.01 30 ml Espadin Mezcal
Jamaica Overproof White Rum 15 0.51 15 ml Jamaica Overproof White Rum
Falernum 15 0.51 15 ml Falernum
1 Bar Spoon Maraschino Luxardo — — 1 Bar Spoon Maraschino Luxardo
Fresh Lime Juice 22.5 0.76 22.5 ml Fresh Lime Juice
Simple Syrup 15 0.51 15 ml Simple Syrup
Few Drops of Egg White (Optional) — — Few Drops of Egg White (Optional)

Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.

How to make it

Shake the measured ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass.

Glass: Cocktail glass. Ice: None in serving glass. Garnish: None specified.

Flavor & balance

  • Sour (Acidic) (dominant): Citrus contributes the principal tart edge; fruit ripeness and juice yield affect balance.
  • Sweet (supporting): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.
  • Earthy / Herbal (supporting): Botanicals, fresh herbs or the base spirit give aromatic plant character; this is not a basic taste.

Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.

Preparation & batching

Service complexity: high. Batchability: spirit components only.

  • Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
  • Prepare or select the named syrup; record its concentration and follow its storage instructions.
  • Prepare and measure fresh fruit components for the service plan; do not assume a fruit count guarantees a juice volume.
  • Use pasteurized egg ingredients and follow the approved cold-holding and allergen procedure; alcohol is not a sanitizing step.

Add carbonated ingredients at service; do not shake or store the finished fizzy drink as a still batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.

Ingredient checks: Egg: present; use pasteurized ingredients under the bar’s approved procedure. These checks are not a complete allergen declaration for every brand or garnish.

Spirit & ingredient choices

Style Role Evidence level Qualification
S021 — Mezcal base documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.
S093 — Overproof Rum supporting documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.
S062 — Herbal / Botanical / Spiced Liqueur supporting qualified Use alcoholic falernum for this liqueur match. Nonalcoholic falernum syrup has no liqueur identity.
S061 — Fruit Liqueur supporting documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.

Recipe notes & variations

For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.

Sources & further reading

  • International Bartenders Association — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.

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