Have you heard the news? National Tequila Day is upon us! Every year on July 24 we pay tribute to one of the greatest spirits ever conceived on this planet or any other, and we do so by sipping it neat, mixing it in margaritas, pouring a delicious tequila sunrise, or any other number of ways. Its greatness lies in its versatility, and so we want to enhance the celebration by offering recipes for some of the most creative cocktails out there.
But let’s not limit the festivities to one day. Keep these cocktails in mind all year round and feel free to add your own twists here and there. That’s what makes tequila (and mezcal) so darn fun anyway.
Margarita Viva México
The Resort: Hacienda Jurica by Brisas
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz grapefruit soda
- 3 jalapeño pepper slices
- 1 lemon slice
- 2 oz white wine
- Ice cube
How to Make It:
In a shaker, place the 3 slices of jalapeño peppers and tequila—lightly marinate just so that the pepper releases a slight flavor. Add the orange liqueur, simple syrup, and grapefruit soda, and shake until it reaches temperature.
Pour into an old fashion glass frosted with half chili and half salt, marinated with white wine, and decorated with a lemon wedge.
Jamaiquilla
The Resort: Galeria Plaza Reforma
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white mezcal
- 2 oz orange juice
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz hibiscus concentrate juice
- Dash of tabasco sauce
How to Make It:
Fill the shaker with 50% ice, add all the ingredients, and shake it. Serve in a frosted Old Fashioned glass with worm salt. Decorate with an orange twist.
IK Margarita
The Resort: NIZUC Resort & Spa
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Silver Tequila Centenario
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz Triple Sec, chili powder
- Salt for rim
- 1 oz habanero-infused simple syrup (1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 habanero chile halved)
How to Make the Habanero Syrup:
Combine the water and the sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Add the habanero chile and continue to heat, bringing the syrup to a light boil. Cover, reduce heat, and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and steep in the covered pan for about 1 hour or until it reaches your preferred taste. Strain out the habanero and bottle under a tight seal. Store in the refrigerator—it should keep for about two weeks.
How to Make the IK Margarita:
Rim your favorite glass with chili powder and salt and set aside. Pour the tequila, lime juice, habanero syrup, and Triple Sec into a cocktail shaker and add a handful of ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Create your own rhythm, feel free to dance and have fun!
Assembly: Strain the preparation into the rimmed glass full of ice and add a lime wedge with a slice of habanero as a garnish.
Tierra Mexicana
The Resort: Mexico Grand Hotels
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz tequila reposado
- 1 oz ancho reyes chile liqueur
- 0.5 oz hibiscus concentrate
- 0.5 oz natural lime juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
How to Make the Hibiscus Concentrate:
Steep 500 grams of hibiscus flower in 350 ml boiling water. Separate the solids and use the liquid as the concentrate.
How to Make the Tierra Mexicana:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds. Serve in an Old Fashioned glass with large ice cubes and garnish with a hibiscus worm salt rim.
Optional: add the leftover dried hibiscus flower from hibiscus juice concentrate.
Agave Citrico
The resort: Mexico Grand Hotels
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of tequila blanco
- Mandarin basil syrup (mandarin juice infused with equal parts basil and 2 tablespoons sugar)
- 0.5 oz natural lime juice
- Citrus shrub
- A pinch of salt
How to Make It:
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds, then strain through a Julep strainer, and serve in a Coupe glass. Garnish with dried mandarin.
White Wave
The Resort: Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende
Ingredients:
- 0.75 oz lime
- 0.75 oz passionfruit juice
- 0.5 oz lemongrass syrup
- 1 oz Nami Sake Daiginjo
- 1.5 oz Casa Dragones Tequila
- Scoop of frappe ice
- Plenty of attitude
How to Make It:
Mix and serve over ice.
Tourist Visa
The Resort: W New Orleans
Ingredients:
- 2 oz house-infused spicy tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 0.5 oz orgeat syrup
- 0.5 oz house ginger syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 2 dashes orange flower water
How to Make It:
Combine all ingredients into a mixer, mix and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Garnish the cocktail with a dehydrated lime wheel and ginger candy and enjoy.
Isn’t Shiso Lovely
The Resort: W Aspen
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila blanco
- 1 oz St. Germain
- Splash of Yuzu Juice
- Shiso leaves
How to Make It:
Combine all ingredients into a mixer, mix and strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish the cocktail with Shiso leaves and enjoy.
The Red Dragon ‘Rita
The Resort: JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz tequila (preferably Don Julio Añejo)
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- Mint leaves
- 6 raspberries
How to Make It:
Muddle raspberries and mint leaves and set aside. Pour rest of ingredients into a shaker, add ice and shake to mix. Pour mix into a double rocks glass and add muddled raspberries and mint leaves to serve.
Sunday Margarita
The Resort: JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Ingredients:
- 1 oz tequila blanco
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz milk
- 1 oz nutella
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate sticks
How to Make It:
Combine all liquid ingredients into a mixer, add ice and shake. Pour mix into a double rocks glass and garnish with whipped cream and chocolate sticks.
