The 2-Ingredient Cocktail I’m Making All Summer Long

When I think of summer cocktails, I think fruity, refreshing, and thirst-quenching. I also think ease. I don’t want to spend my warm weather downtime juicing countless limes, muddling herbs, and simmering simple syrups. I just want a drink, and I want it now.

After a recent dinner out with friends, we all wandered into a low-key bar for a nightcap. It wasn’t the kind of place for fancy cocktails and I wasn’t crazy about their beer selection, but they had an offering tucked in the corner of the menu that caught my eye: a can of Stiegl Radler and a shot of mezcal. 

Now, my shot-and-a-beer days are long past, but this combination sounded good to me. Upon receiving my order, I drank some of the radler, then added the shot directly to the can. My friends followed suit, and we all looked at each other with surprised faces. It was delicious! We’ve since declared it the drink of the summer.

Why This Combo Works

Stiegl is an Austrian brewery that makes a mighty fine radler. A radler is a combination of a light, refreshing beer with fruit soda, typically made with real fruit juice. It’s also called a shandy (or a panaché in France). Citrus—like orange, lemon, or grapefruit—is the most common radler flavor. Stiegl’s radler is the grapefruit variety, and it is juicy, lightly tart, and super refreshing. It’s very fruit-forward and not bitter at all, so it tends to please even non-beer drinkers.

This fruity, effervescent drink is the ideal mixer for smoky, naturally fruity mezcal. I don’t know why I didn’t think to try this combo earlier; maybe because one is Austrian, and one is Mexican? No matter where they’re from, they’re a match made in heaven.

A Note On Ingredients

I can usually find Stiegl Radler, in its trademark white and ruby-colored packaging, at my local liquor store as well as some grocery stores. The brand also makes a lemon-flavored radler, which I’m sure would be good here. I most commonly find it in the 16-ounce tall cans, but it’s also sold in smaller glass bottles as six-packs.

If you can’t find Stiegl Radler, Paulaner Grapefruit Radler or Schofferhofer Hefeweizen Grapefruit are great alternatives.

I like to use a mild, naturally citrusy mezcal for this cocktail. Del Maguey Vida, especially the Puebla variety, is a good choice. If you don’t care for the smokiness of mezcal, a blanco or reposado tequila also works really well.

How to Make My 2-Ingredient Mezcal (or Tequila) Shandy

For two drinks, you’ll need:

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) mezcal or tequila
• 1 (16.9-ounce) can Stiegl Radler
• 2 lime wedges, optional

Add 1 ounce of tequila to each of two tall glasses. Top with ice. Divide the radler evenly between the glasses and serve with lime wedges.

More 2-Ingredient Summer Cocktails To Sip