Elegant Tequila Cocktails That Will Elevate Your Cinco De Mayo

Drink, Cocktail garnish, Alcoholic beverage, Pisco sour, Non-alcoholic beverage, Classic cocktail, Food, Cocktail, Batida, Distilled beverage,
The Best Cocktails for Cinco de MayoHearst Owned


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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.

More: The Best Tequila Brands to Use for Margaritas

Alcoholic Lime Margarita with Tequila
bhofack2 - Getty Images

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.

Margarita Cointreau
Courtesy of Cointreau

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.

flecha azul coco carlos
Flecha Azul

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.

a bottle of alcohol next to a glass of wine
Campante

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

best cinco de mayo drink recipes
Courtesy Don Julio

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.

fiero margarita
Martini & Rossi

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).

sombra negroni
Sombra

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

the wrangler cocktail
Corralejo Tequila

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

motel morris
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

Drink, Lemon-lime, Sour, Non-alcoholic beverage, Alcoholic beverage, Cocktail garnish, Gimlet, Limeade, Rickey, Juice,
The Pony Room

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.

volcán de mi tierra cocktail
Volcán de mi Tierra

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

Cinco de Mayo drinks
Courtesy of Primrose at Park MGM

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.

cinco de mayo drink recipes
BEAUTIFUL BOOZE

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

oaxaca sour
Añejo

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.

best cinco de mayo drink recipes
Courtesy Cointreau

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.

teremana spritz
Teremana Tequila

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.

toasted coconut margarita
Courtesy of Shooters

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.

el mercadidio
El Mercadido

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.

ranch water
Milagro

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.

dos hombres mezcal
Dos Hombres

Mango Cooler

Ingredients
1.5 oz YaVe Blanco Tequila
.5 oz simple syrup
.5 oz lime juice
10 mango chunks (peeled & diced)
Club soda

Instructions
Muddle mangos in a shaker. Add all ingredients except the soda. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a glass over ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a mango slice.

mango cooler
Kevin Chen

Mex-Mosa

Ingredients
2 oz tequila
.75 oz simple syrup
.75 oz fresh grapefruit juice
Bottle of prosecco

Instructions
Add tequila, simple syrup, and grapefruit juice to a shaker. Shake and strain into a champagne flute. Top with prosecco and garnish with a mint leaf, strawberry, or orange wedge.

By Paul Lewis and Michael Moody at the Chester in New York City

cinco de mayo drink recipes
Gansevort

The Devil’s Margarita

Ingredients
1.5 oz Volcán de mi Tierra Blanco
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup
.5 oz red wine (fruity)

Instructions
Pour tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup into a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a margarita glass and slowly pour the red wine into the drink using a bar spoon.

volcán de mi tierra cocktail
Volcán de mi Tierra

Gingerita

Ingredients
2 oz Tequila añejo
.25 oz fresh ginger juice
.5 oz Cointreau
1 oz lime juice
.25 oz agave syrup

Instructions
Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and serve into a nick and nora glass. Garnish with a dehydrated lime slice and lime zest.

From Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

gingerita
Auberge Resorts Collection

Margarita Azul

Ingredients
1 oz Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur
1.5 oz Tequila Partida blanco
.75 part fresh lime juice
.25 part simple syrup

Instructions
Shake all ingredients and pour into a salted rim glass. Garnish with lemon or lime wedge.

bols margarita
Bols

Tequila Julep

Ingredients
1.5 oz tequila
Crushed ice
.25 oz simple syrup
6 to 7 mint leaves and sprigs

Instructions
Muddle mint leaves with simple syrup in the bottom of a chilled julep cup. Add tequila and crushed ice. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with mint sprigs.

From Ocho at Hotel Havana in San Antonio, TX

easy cinco de mayo drink recipes
Ocho at Hotel Havana

Pomegranate Manarita

Ingredients
2 oz Teremana Blanco
1 oz pomegranate juice
.75 oz lime juice
.5 oz agave nectar
Pinch of salt

Instructions
Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

pomegranate manarita
MICHAEL PERSICO

Mana Daisy

Ingredients
2 oz Teremana Blanco
.75 oz Lemon Juice
.75 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
Splash of Soda

Ingredients
Place lemon juice, passion fruit syrup and tequila into shaker. Shake and add a splash of soda directly to the tin before straining. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with edible flower.

mana daisy
MICHAEL PERSICO

Kiwi Margarita

Ingredients
1 oz Cointreau
1.5 oz mezcal
.75 oz lime juice
3 kiwi slices
3 cilantro sprig

Instructions
Muddle kiwi and cilantro sprigs in shaker tin. Add all other ingredients to shaker. Add ice and shake. Fine strain into rocks glass over a big rock. Garnish with cilantro.

<span class="photo-credit">Cointreau</span>
Cointreau

Cinco De Mayo

Ingredients
2 oz Los Magos Sotol
.5 oz Ancho Reyes Verde
3 oz fresh watermelon juice
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup

Instructions
Build all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain into a salt-rimmed glass with fresh ice.

los magos sotol
Los Magos Sotol

Pink Moon

Ingredients
1.5 oz Mezcal Montelobos Espadín
.5 oz Aperol
.5 oz lime juice
.75 oz grapefruit juice
1.5 rosé

Instructions
Combine and mix all ingredients with 1 cup of ice and blend in blender until smooth. Garnish with half grapefruit round.

montelobos pink moon
Montelobos

Inspiro Social Butterfly

Ingredients
2 oz Inspiro Tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice
1/3 cup of cooled butterfly pea flower tea
.5 oz agave syrup

Instructions
Add Inspiro Tequila, lime juice, agave syrup and stir to combine. Add liquid to a wine glass filled with ice. Pour in the butterfly pea tea water and watch your cocktail turn purple.

inspiro social butterfly
Inspiro Tequila

El Diablo

Ingredients
2 oz Cincoro Blanco
.5 oz lime juice
.5 oz Lejay Cassis
3 oz spicy ginger beer

Instructions
Combine first three ingredients in a glass with ice and stir to combine. Top with ginger beer.

cincoro
Cincoro

It Takes Dos To Tango

Ingredients
1 oz Dos Hombres Mezcal
1 oz mango juice
.5 oz Cointreau
.5 oz lime juice
.25 oz agave nectar

Instructions
Add all ingredients into a mixing tin. Shake and strain into a large rocks glass rimmed with salt and sugar.

dos hombres mezcal
Dos Hombres

Citrus Fizz

Ingredients
1.5 oz Tesoro tequila
1 oz citrus syrup
.5 oz lime juice
Topo Chico

Instructions
Pour tequila, citrus syrup and lime juice into cocktail shaker, shake, and strain into salted rim doubles rock glass. Top with Topo Chico.

From Aldama

citrus fizz
Aldama

Margariticus

Ingredients
25 ML Tequila Blanco
35 ML Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
20 ML lemon juice

Instructions
Shake all ingredients together with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

<span class="photo-credit">NIKLAS HALLE'N</span>
NIKLAS HALLE'N

Tepozán Negroni

Ingredients
1 oz Tepozán Añejo
1 oz Campari or Cappelletti
1 oz Carpano Antica Vermouth
Squeeze of orange

Instructions
Combine ingredients in mixing glass with ice, stir, and pour. Garnish with dehydrated orange.

tepozán negroni
Tepozán

Sparkling Raspberry Rose

Ingredients
1.5 oz Casamigos Blanco Tequila
1 oz lime juice
.75 oz simple syrup
4 raspberries
2 dashes Peychauds Bitters
Top off with sparkling brut rosé

Instructions
Combine all ingredients except brut rosé into tin shaker. Muddle raspberries. Add ice, shake vigorously and fine strain into coupe glass. Top off with sparkling brut rosé and garnish.

casamigos sparkling rasberry rose
Casamigos

Chipotle Irish Coffee

Ingredients
2 oz Tanteo Chipotle Tequila
5 oz espresso
.5 teaspoon granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon brown sugar
Whipped cream for topping

Instructions
Add fresh coffee to glass, stir in white and brown sugar until dissolved. Add Tanteo Chipotle Tequila and stir. Top with whipped cream.

tanteo irish coffee
Tanteo

Rye-garita

Ingredients
1.5 oz Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey
.5 oz Orange Liqueur
1 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Agave Nectar

Instructions
Combine all ingredients with ice and stir.

rye rita
Michael Pohuski

Bandido Jungle Juice

Ingredients
1.5 oz El Bandido Yankee Blanco Tequila
.5 oz mezcal
.5 oz Campari
.5 oz orgeat
1 oz pineapple juice
.5 oz lime juice
.5 oz grapefruit juice
1 bar spoon Absinthe

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and whip shake with a small amount of ice. Pour into a gorgeous double rocks glass filled with pebble ice.

el bandido yankee jungle juice
El Bandido Yankee

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