16 Delicious Tequila Cocktails That Get the Party Started
If you’re a fan of classic cocktails and mixed drinks, you’ll likely have a bottle of tequila for cocktail parties and happy hour at home. Tequila is a distilled liquor made from the blue agave plant. Tequila blanco, also called silver tequila, is considered the purest form of tequila because it’s typically bottled directly after distillation. It’s the variety of tequila commonly used in cocktails like margaritas and palomas.
We love margaritas in every form — especially pitcher margaritas for a crowd. While the classic margarita is a timeless favorite, our Mexican margarita showcases agave by using 100% agave tequila and agave nectar. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart. The Paloma cocktail is a refreshing blend of tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime juice. We also use fresh grapefruit juice to boost the cocktail’s citrusy flavor and pretty pink color. For winter, we have a tart cranberry margarita and a festive cranberry Tequila Sunrise to kick off the holiday season with friends and family.
Whether it’s a hot summer day or a cozy winter evening, there’s a tequila cocktail for every occasion. Here you’ll find our 15 best tequila cocktails that you can sip on any time of the year (not just on Cinco de Mayo!).
Margarita Margarita
Shake up the best margarita of your life with just lime juice, blanco tequila, and orange liqueur – no sweetener required!
Mexican Margarita Mexican Margarita
This perfect margarita has a nice balance of sweet and tart, and it has just three ingredients: 100% agave tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice, and agave nectar.
Paloma Cocktail Paloma Cocktail
Rosey-hued and bittersweet, this grapefruit and tequila highball gets a fizzy finish with a splash of grapefruit soda. You’ll want to use 100% agave silver tequila for the most crisp flavor.
Ranch Water Ranch Water
What could be more tempting on a sweltering summer day than a fizzy, iced elixir served with a side of folklore? Three ingredients — blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and Topo Chico mineral water — tumbled into an icy glass will set you on the path to bright, bubbly refreshment.
Pitcher Margaritas Pitcher Margaritas
This big-batch margarita is ideal for serving a crowd — and requires just three ingredients!
Spicy Margarita Spicy Margarita
Introducing jalapeños to the mix is the simplest, easiest way to add some zing to a classic margarita.
The Ultimate Frozen Margaritas The Ultimate Frozen Margaritas
Ditch the syrupy slush that covers bottom-shelf tequila and blend a batch with better ingredients right at home. Look for a 100% agave silver tequila, which has a clean taste that let the fresh citrus juices shine through.
Cranberry Tequila Sunrise Cranberry Tequila Sunrise
Make this cranberry version of the classic cocktail with homemade grenadine with cranberry juice.
Watermelon Margarita Watermelon Margarita
This eye-catching cocktail gets its bright-pink hue from fresh watermelon juice and comes together quickly with a whirl of the blender. Combine it with tequila and lime juice, and you have a fun twist on a margarita that’s sweet, tart, and dangerously drinkable.
Spicy Pineapple Punch Spicy Pineapple Punch
An easy recipe for three-ingredient tequila punch with pineapple juice and muddled jalapeños.
Cranberry Margarita Cranberry Margarita
The tartness of the cranberries pairs beautifully with the classic margarita trifecta: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
The Pink Paloma Cocktail The Pink Paloma Cocktail
The Paloma is a traditional Mexican cocktail made with grapefruit soda and tequila. This version uses Perrier-pink grapefruit in lieu of soda for the spritz, some silver tequila, and ice.
The Bloody Maria The Bloody Maria
The Bloody Maria is the same as a Bloody Mary, but tequila takes the place of vodka, giving this brunch favorite a simple and delicious makeover.
Sorghum Old-Fashioned Sorghum Old-Fashioned
This twist on a classic Old-Fashioned swaps the simple syrup out for sorghum syrup, which lends depth and richness.
The Palermo Cocktail The Palermo Cocktail
This cocktail is inspired by the beloved Paloma cocktail, a concoction of tequila, grapefruit juice, fresh-squeezed lime, and Jarritos (grapefruit soda). This version gets a Sicilian makeover with blood oranges as its influence.
Spicy Roasted Shishito Pepper Margarita Spicy Roasted Shishito Pepper Margarita
It’s finally time to put shishito peppers where they belong: Muddled in an ice-cold margarita with a few extra for snacking alongside.
