Tequila is distilled from blue agave, giving it earthy, herbal, and sweet tasting notes. The flavor can vary depending on the specific type of tequila you have:
- Blanco is crisp, fresh, and ideal for lighter cocktails.
- Reposado is aged for up to a year, adding smooth, oaky notes.
- Añejo is aged over a year, offering complex, rich flavors.
Tequila is distilled in only five areas of Mexico (Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas). It’s deeply rooted in Mexican culture and tradition. Cocktails like margaritas or palomas bring a taste of Mexico to the glass, often featuring fresh, zesty, and tropical flavors.
Why make cocktails with Tequila? It pairs well with a variety of ingredients, from citrus (lime, grapefruit) to sweeteners (agave syrup, honey) to spices (chili, cinnamon). It’s strong, distinct taste can also stand up to bold mixers, while still blending harmoniously in subtler combinations.
Tequila cocktails are a celebration of bold flavors, creativity, and the rich heritage of Mexico, making them a favorite choice for parties, relaxing evenings, or any festive occasion.
Here’s a list 5 simple tequila cocktails (that aren’t a Margarita or Bloody Mary) you need to try, especially if you’re new to the world of tequila:
The Manhattan Bridge – (from Big Tequila) If you love a Manhattan, try this one. Adding tequila to all the ingredients of a Manhattan, this cocktail offers an earthy variant to the classic cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce tequila
- 2/3 ounce whiskey
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 barspoon maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Recipe: Fill a mixing glass with ice and pour in all the ingredients. Stir rapidly with a bar spoon for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with 2 maraschino cherries.
Cantarito – (from Mexico City Cocktails) This blend of citrus juices, chili powder, and tequila makes it perfect for a sunny day with friends.
Ingredients
- Tajin, for the rim
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 ½ ounce orange juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ½ ounce tequila
- 2 ounces grapefruit soda, to top
Recipe: Wet the rim of your mug with grapefruit and dip it in the Tajin. Build the cocktail in the mug with an ice cube in the order listed and stir to combine. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a sprig of rosemary.
Pineapple Leap– (from The Home Bartender: Mezcal & Tequila) Who doesn’t love pineapple? This is a delightful, pineapple-led fruity mix that any sane person is sure to enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ ounce tequila
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
Recipe: Place all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake until chilled, and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Perfect Paloma – (from The Home Bartender: Mezcal & Tequila) This slightly less well-known sister of the Margarita is a citrusy and subtly savory treat. The flavor of this drink perfectly balances sweet, sour, and salty.
Ingredients
- Salt, for the rim
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces seltzer water
Recipe: Wet the rim of a Collins glass and coat it with salt. Place the tequila, juices, and syrup in a cocktail shaker, add 1-2 ice cubes, and shake until chilled. Pour into the Collins glass and top with seltzer. Add more ice and garnish with grapefruit slice.
Cactus Bloom – (from The Home Bartender: Mezcal & Tequila) Tequila and cranberry don’t need to form a Cranberry Margarita to be delicious. The Cactus Bloom takes precisely those two flavors and gives them a minty fresh twist for a cocktail that feels both new and familiar.
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves
- 21ouncessilver tequila
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 dash fresh lime juice
- Sugar, for the rim
Recipe: Wet the rim of a Collins glass and coat it with sugar. Tear the mint leaves in half and add them to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add tequila, cranberry juice, and lime juice to the cocktail shaker, and shake until chilled. Fill Collins glass with ice, strain contents into the glass, and garnish with a lime wedge.
For more delicious tequila cocktails check out Big Tequila, Mexico City Cocktails, and The Home Bartender: Mezcal and Tequila!
