From margaritas with a Caribbean twist to a tequila-infused old fashioned, here are 10 Cinco de Mayo drinks we love.
Mexican Sunset
You’ve heard of the tequila sunrise, now meet the Mexican Sunset. A slow, finishing pour of grenadine makes the drink look just as good as it tastes.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Amaretto
- 1 oz. peach schnapps
- 3 oz. silver tequila
- 6 oz. pineapple juice
- ½ oz. grenadine
- slice of lime
- maraschino cherry
Instructions:
Add the Amaretto, peach schnapps, tequila and pineapple juice to a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake and pour over ice. Slowly pour in the grenadine down the side of the glass so that it falls to the bottom. Garnish with slice of lime and cherries.
Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Real House Moms
Abuelorita
The three-ingredient Abuelorita puts a Caribbean spin on the traditional margarita.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Ron Abuelo Añejo (or any brand of añejo tequila)
- 1 oz. triple sec
- ½ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- lime wedge for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with lime wedge.
Serves 1
Picante De La Casa
Cool muddled cilantro balances the heat from a fresh Fresno chile in a sweet-spicy refresher.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz. agave nectar
- 12 cilantro leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish
- 1 (¼”) piece of a Fresno chile pepper, plus 2 rings for garnish
Instructions:
Muddle tequila, lime juice, agave, cilantro leaves, and piece of chile in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake; strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with cilantro sprig and chile rings.
Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Saveur
Chavela (Mexican Beer With Tomato Juice)
A classic version of a Mexican cerveza preparada (prepared beer), the chavela couldn’t be simpler: tomato juice, hot sauce, beer, lemon, and ice, with a salted rim. Drink it on its own, or pair it with a shot of tequila for a real kick.
Ingredients:
- Lemon wedge
- Kosher salt, for rimming the glass
- 3 oz. tomato juice
- 6 dashes hot sauce, like Tabasco or Cholula
- 12 oz. bottle light-bodied Mexican beer, like Corona
- 1½ oz. tequila (optional)
Instructions:
Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of a glass; reserve the lemon wedge. Pour some sea salt out onto a plate, and rub the rim of the glass in the salt to coat. Fill the glass with ice, add tomato juice, hot sauce, and beer to fill. Drop in the lemon wedge. Serve with a shot of tequila, if you like.
Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Saveur
Mexican Mule Cocktail
Moscow meets Mexico in this twist on a classic mule.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz. Tequila
- Juice from 1 lime
- 3 oz. ginger beer
- Mint
Instructions:
Over a glass of ice, squeeze the fresh lime juice. Add tequila and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime and a sprig of fresh mint. Clap the fresh mint between your palms to release the fragrant oils.
Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Cupcakes and Cutlery
Book Club Sangria
This sweet-tart wine punch was invented by members of the Junior League of Houston book club in the 1970s. It’s a perfect party drink to make for Cinco de Mayo.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 (750-ml) bottle fruity red wine, such as pinot noir
- ¼ cup brandy
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 cup ginger ale
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 4 thin slices each of orange, lemon, and lime
- 1 fresh peach, pitted and sliced
Instructions:
Bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan. Let cool and transfer to a pitcher; add wine, brandy, and citrus juices. Chill. Before serving, add ginger ale, pineapple, citrus slices, and peaches. Stir and serve over ice.
Serves 6-8, Recipe courtesy of Saveur
Skinny Coconut Margarita
Need a guilt-free Cinco de Mayo drink? Indulge on this margarita with a tropical twist.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz. canned lite coconut milk
- 1 ½ oz. tequila blanco
- 3⁄4 oz. triple sec
- 4 oz. coconut water
- Fresh lime wedge, to serve
Instructions:
Add coconut milk, tequila, triple sec and coconut water to a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake and pour over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Salt and Wit
Tequila Old Fashioned
Aged reposado tequila adds smooth vanilla notes to a light, citrusy twist on a classic old fashioned.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. agave nectar
- 2 slices blood orange, plus peel for garnish
- 3 oz. reposado tequila, such as Milagro
- 1-2 dashes bitters
Instructions:
Muddle agave and orange slices in a cocktail shaker, add tequila and ice. Stir until well-chilled and strain into an old fashioned glass filled with ice. Add bitters and garnish with orange peel.
Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Saveur
Champagne Margaritas
Elevate your margarita by adding your favorite brand of bubbly.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 cup silver tequila
- ½ cup orange liqueur
- 1 bottle champagne (about 3 cups)
- lime wedges, for rim
- salt, for rim
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir well. Run lime wedges around the rim of each champagne flute and dip the rims in coarse salt. Divide margaritas between flutes and garnish with lime wedges.
Serves 6, Recipe courtesy of Delish
Cuervo Tradicional El Diablo
Cuervo tequila gets a lift from tart cranberry juice and bubbly ginger ale, producing the perfect Cinco de Mayo drink.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz. Jose Cuervo Tradicional
- 1 oz. cranberry juice
- 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- 1 splash ginger ale
- 1 lime wedge
Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a highball or rocks glass. Top off with ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wedge.
*Serves 1, Recipe courtesy of Delish
