Tequila is a versatile and dynamic spirit in its own right, which transcends seasonal boundaries. The best tequila cocktails can range from refreshing and citrusy creations that dominate summer gatherings to warm and spiced libations that provide comfort during the colder months.
From crisp blanco to aged varieties like reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and cristallino, the Mexican agave spirit adapts seamlessly to the changing seasons, ensuring there's a tequila cocktail for every palate, occasion, and budget (yes, there are plenty of great cheap tequilas).
Now that National Margarita Day has passed (Feb 22.), it's the perfect opportunity to expand your horizons. We tapped top mixologists to come up with a list of the best tequila cocktails, easy tequila cocktails, and classic tequila cocktails. You'll find loads of margarita variations, whether you like yours smoky, spicy, sweet, or perfectly balanced. Scroll down for a primer on the best tequila for cocktails depending on the flavor profile you want to achieve.
Best Tequila Cocktails
Easy Tequila Cocktails
Classic Tequila Cocktails
How to Choose the Right Tequila for Cocktails
Blanco
This is the most popular type of tequila for cocktails. You'll also see it referred to as silver or plata tequila. Blanco is typically clear as it's usually unaged (though it can rest for up to two months in oak barrels). It offers imbibers the purest taste of agave. You can expect tasting notes that are earthy, vegetal, and sometimes even mineral with salinity. "Blanco tequilas can be substituted in just about any clear spirits cocktail that uses vodka or gin," Alan says. Take advantage of the bright, fresh profile by mixing blancos in margaritas and palomas.
Reposado
Reposado tequila has a golden hue that comes from its time resting in oak barrels—usually American oak barrels that formerly held bourbon. It can age anywhere between two months to a full year. During that time, the tequila develops notes of vanilla and caramel from the whiskey. The end product is earthy and savory, making it a perfect complement to more complex tequila cocktails that feature fall and winter spices, as well as rich recipes like a tequila espresso martini. See our roundup of the best reposado tequila cocktails for more ideas.
Añejo
Añejo intensifies the flavors of reposado by aging between one to three years in barrels. The casks can be built of anything, but regulations stipulate they can’t be larger than 600 liters in size. The aged tequila imbues a deeper hue, more like caramel. It's also often sweeter, with flavors of oaked vanilla, caramel, and spices like cinnamon. While a brilliant sipping tequila, añejo is also a smash hit in classic whiskey cocktails like an old fashioned.
Extra Añejo
While extra añejo (XA) is aged the longest, it's the newest in terms of tequila designations. Extra añejos comprise any tequila aged for at least three years in barrels no larger than 600 liters in size. It's very rare to use an XA in a cocktail, as these bottlings wear the most expensive price tag. That said, if you want to make a luxe libation, sub whiskey for extra añejo in, say, a Manhattan.
Cristalino
Cristalino is the only tequila category that isn't officially recognized by tequila’s governing body, the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). There aren't hard and fast rules, but rather guidelines as to what qualifies as an example. Usually, cristalinos are añejos or extra añejos that undergo charcoal filtration to remove the color of the aged spirit. You get a clear tequila that still retains some of the sweeter barrel notes gained during cask maturation. This is great in upscale tequila cocktails where you want more nuanced flavor without the color.
Tips for Mixing Up Better Tequila Cocktails
1. Use Good-Quality Ice
You don't have to go crazy and buy a clear-ice maker (though those are great when drinking the best whiskey on the rocks). "Use the biggest, clearest, coldest ice you can find," Alan says. Avoid the bagged stuff at bodegas and gas stations.
2. Keep Your Mix-Ins Fresh
"Always store wine-based ingredients, like vermouth, in the fridge for maximum freshness," Alan says. When you're making syrups from scratch at home, be sure to refrigerate them and add a label with the expiration date (up to three weeks) to ensure freshness.
3. Take Advantage of Fresh Juices and Garnishes
The higher the quality of your ingredients, the better your tequila cocktail will be. Avoid using juice concentrates; instead, opt for fresh-squeezed juices. "Don’t forget to garnish your drink with a fresh slice or zest of fresh citrus," Alan says. "Besides enlivening the olfactory senses, the garnish is like window dressing for your cocktail and makes your drink a fest for the eyes."
Clark set the Indiana Fever’s franchise record for turnovers (10), shot 5-of-15 from the floor and struggled with the Connecticut Sun’s physical defense.
The atmosphere was electric for Clark's home debut and there were brief flashes from the Fever, but it's clear they've got plenty to work on before they can compete with the WNBA's elite teams.
Yahoo Sports NBA draft expert Krysten Peek is back for another season of On the Clock with Krysten Peek. Krysten just spent the week in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine and kicks off draft season joined by CBS Sports' Kyle Boone.
Gottlieb's repeatedly courted controversy in his media role and will reportedly continue to host his nationally syndicated radio show while coaching Green Bay.