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While Cinco de Mayo may be a primarily American holiday, there's no denying the popularity of the Mexican-themed celebration has made it a major holiday for cocktail lovers stateside. And while there will certainly be no shortage of bars and restaurants offering up margaritas and tequila shots on May 5th, you don't need to brave the crowds (or overspend on an underwhelming drink) to embrace some agave love this year. Whether you're into a traditional margarita or prefer to shake things up with a smokey Mezcal drink, the delicious options on this list are a snap to make at home.
Classic Margarita
Ingredients
2 oz tequila
1 oz triple sec
1 oz lime juice
1 lime cut into wedges
Instructions
Salt the glasses rim by dipping wet glass rim into salt dish and rotating. Combine all ingredients into a shaker, shake well and strain into the rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
The Luxe Margarita
Ingredients
1 oz blanco tequila
1 oz Cointreau
.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 champagne float
3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
Instructions
Add Cointreau, tequila and lime juice into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled champagne coup. Top with champagne and bitters. Garnish with a rose petal.
El Coco Carlos
Ingredients
2 oz Flecha Azul Reposado Tequila
1 oz coconut water
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz agave syrup
Orange wedge
Instructions
Start by muddling an orange wedge in your shaker, then combine the rest of the ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a salted rocks glass over one giant cube. Garnish with an orange spiral.
By Chas Martin and Benji Homsey at The Charles in Dallas.
Mezcal Spritz
Ingredients
1 oz Mezcal Campante
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
.30 oz Agave Syrup
3 oz Soda Water
Instructions
Add all ingredients (except soda) into a glass. Add ice to the top of the glass and stir quickly to combine. Top with soda water. Garnish with lemon leaf.
Colsa Martini
Ingredients
1.5 oz Don Julio 70 tequila
.5 oz white vermouth
2 dashes of grapefruit bitters
1 grapefruit twist
Instructions
Combine tequila, vermouth, and grapefruit bitters into a mixing glass with ice. Stir well. Strain contents into a coupe glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
By Mica Rousseau of Mexico City
Fiero Margarita
Ingredients
1.5 oz Patron Silver
.75 oz Martini & Rossi Fiero
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup
Instructions
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel, and salt rim.
Reposé Negroni
Ingredients
1 oz Sombra Reposé Mezcal
1 oz rosé wine
1 oz bitter aperitivo liqueur
Orange peel
Instructions
Combine all ingredients into mixing glass with ice. Stir, then strain into rocks glass with ice. Garnish with orange peel (express on glass before garnishing).
The Wrangler
Ingredients
1.5 oz Corralejo Tequila Silver
.25 oz agave nectar
.25 oz grapefruit juice
.25 oz lemon juice
3 dashes grapefruit bitter
3 oz Negro Modelo
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except beer in shaker and shake. Strain into a Collins glass with ice and top with beer. Garnish with citrus twist of choice.
More: Tasty Beer Cocktails
La Palabra
Ingredients
1 oz Teremana Blanco
1 oz lime juice
1 oz maraschino liqueur
1 oz Bitteroma Bianco
Instructions
Combine all ingredients, shake with ice and double strain into a Nick & Nora glass with one Maraschino cherry
By Jake Williamson at Motel Morris
La Piñata
Ingredients
2 oz Blanco Tequila
1 oz pineapple juice
.75 oz lime juice
.5 oz agave
3 sprigs cilantro
Instructions
Tear cilantro and build all ingredients in a shaker tin. Add ice and shake. Double strain over ice in a glass. Garnish with pineapple leaves, a lime wheel, serrano and cilantro.
By Ted Gibson at The Pony Room at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Mexican Martini
Ingredients
2.5 oz Volcán de mi Tierra Tequila Añejo Cristalino
1.5 oz orange liqueur
1.5 oz lime juice
1.5 oz olive brine from the olive jar
Instructions
Shake the ingredients in a shaker full of ice, strain into a martini glass and spritz with the orange zest. Garnish with olives and an optional lime wedge.
My Fair Lady
Ingredients
1.25 oz Herradura Blanco
.75 oz Bols yogurt
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.25 oz honey syrup
5 slices of cucumber
A pinch of Maldon salt
Garnish with a cucumber ribbon
Instructions
Place cucumbers into shaker tin. Add honey syrup and muddle. Add the remaining ingredients into the tin and shake hard. Double strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cucumber ribbon.
From Primrose at Park MGM in Las Vegas
Spicy Pineapple Paloma
Ingredients
2 oz Corralejo Silver
.5 oz grapefruit juice
.5 oz lime juice
half of a serrano pepper, sliced
.75 oz agave syrup
Pineapple soda
Tajín spices (garnish)
Instructions
Add all ingredients, except pineapple soda to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients. Strain over into a tall glass that's been rimmed with Tajín spices. Top with pineapple soda and garnish with a serrano pepper.
Oaxaca Sour
Ingredients
.75 oz Peloton de la Muerte Mezcal
.75 oz Johnnie Walker Black
1 oz simple syrup
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz Malbec
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except the Malbec in a shaker with ice. Shake. Double strain over fresh ice in a Brandy Snifter. Float Malbec.
From Añejo in New York City
Matcha Margarita
Ingredients
2 oz tequila
1 oz Cointreau
.75 fresh lime juice
.5 barspoon matcha green tea powder
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Teremana Spritz
Ingredients
1 oz Teremana Blanco Tequila
1 oz coconut water
.25 oz Aperol
.25 oz agave nectar
.25 oz lemon juice
1.5 oz soda
1.5 oz prosecco
Instructions
Shake all ingredients except soda and prosecco with ice and strain over fresh ice. Top with soda and prosecco. Garnish with an orange peel.
Toasted Coconut Margarita
Ingredients
1.5 oz Hiatus Blanco Tequila
.5 oz Cream of Coconut
.5 oz Lime juice
1 oz Pineapple juice
Three mint leaves
Instructions
In a shaker add tequila, cream of coconut, lime juice and pineapple juice. Shake vigorously and pour into a highball glass. Garnish with three mint leaves.
From Shooters in Fort Lauderdale.
El Mercadido
Ingredients
2 oz mezcal
.75 oz Ancho Reyes verde
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz cold brew
.25 oz agave syrup
Angostura bitters
Instructions
Combine all ingredients with ice and stir.
Ranch Water
Ingredients
2 parts Milagro Silver
1.5 parts Fresh Lime Juice
Soda Water to top
Instructions
Fill highball glass with ice, add tequila & fresh lime juice, top with soda water and garnish with a lime wheel.
Hibiscus Cooler
Ingredients
1.5 oz Dos Hombres Mezcal
.50 oz agave syrup
.75 oz lime juice
1 0z hibiscus tea
Instructions
Add all ingredients minus soda water to a shaker tin with ice. Shake then strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with dried hibiscus flowers and lime wheel.
Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.
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