Words by Ana Patterson
Everyone knows someone who ‘hates tequila’ and the chances are that a past experience with one too many tequila shots is to blame! There are some stunning tequilas and some equally stunning tequila-based cocktails out there that are well worth a try though. So, take that lime wedge out of your hand and pop it in the base of a cocktail shaker, you’re about to look at tequila in a whole new light.
Spicy Tommy’s Margarita
Once you’ve had this cocktail, you’ll never go back. You’ll also transcend reality. You might even run down the street barefoot shouting with joy because THIS. COCKTAIL. IS. AMAZING… have we convinced you to try it yet?! Top Tip: the spiciness of this cocktail depends on the chilli, so make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start shaking ;)
Ingredients
1 slice of deseeded and chopped chilli
60ml reposado tequila
15ml agave syrup
30ml lime juice
top of a chilli pepper for the garnish (deseeded)
Method
Muddle the sliced chilli in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until well-chilled and fine strain into an ice filled rocks glass.
Añejo Old Fashioned
Massive whisky afficiando at the tequila party? There’s often one… However much they might insist that nothing will beat their whisky, you must insist harder that this Añejo Old Fashioned is very much worth their time. The aged Añejo tequila provides oaky notes, spice and flavours of roasted agave which is bound to put a smile on even their face.
Ingredients
60ml añejo tequila
7.5ml agave syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
orange peel
Method
Add the tequila, agave syrup and bitters to a tumbler with a big ice cube and stir well for around 30 seconds to combine. Garnish with the orange peel.
Tequila Mockingbird
Like the pun?! If not, off to the library with you it is! If you’re going for the classy, progressive Atticus Finch look - you’re going to need one of these in your hand. We’re not sure how the watermelon fits in with the novel, but it sure fits into the cocktail well!
Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
15ml lime juice
15ml agave syrup
3 watermelon cubes
1 slice jalapeño
Method
Muddle the watermelon cubes and jalapeño in the bottom of the cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled and fine strain into a glass over ice.
Frozen Margarita
It may not quite be summer, but we’re certainly not far off now. That calls for the summer drink of all summer drinks - the Frozen Margarita! This is basically a margarita slushie and the recipe is the same as a normal margarita - just with added ice and a blender. Blend it baby!
Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
25ml Cointreau
25ml lime juice
15ml sugar syrup
large handful of ice
wedge of lime to garnish
Method
Place all the ingredients in a blender, excluding the lime wedge, and blend until smooth. Pour into a margarita glass and garnish with a wedge of lime. Enjoy!
Tequila Sunrise
It may be called a sunRISE, but we recommend you drink these at sunset instead… The name actually comes from what the drink looks like when it’s in the glass. For this reason, don’t stir in the grenadine when you pour it in or it will ruin the beautiful ombre effect that the different colours give! Don’t look at it for too long, however, because it’s really all about the flavours! Refreshing and fruity, this long tequila drink is one to note down.
Ingredients
100ml orange juice
50ml blanco tequila
30ml grenadine
maraschino cherry and orange wheel for garnish
Method
Fill a large glass with ice and pour in orange juice and tequila. Pour over the grenadine and do not stir. Garnish with the cherry and orange wheel. Enjoy!
Paloma
According to legend, the Paloma is named after a popular Mexican folk song written in the 1860s! Now isn’t that a fun fact! The grapefruit juice and grapefruit soda in this cocktail gives it a wonderful tang that tastes great with the blanco tequila. It’s super easy to make, and has a really pretty pink tinge to it that looks perfect with a grapefruit wheel garnish!
Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
25ml grapefruit juice
12.5ml lime juice
7.5ml agave syrup
50ml pink grapefruit soda
wheel of grapefruit for garnish
Method
Shake the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a tall glass and top up with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a wheel of grapefruit.
Bloody Maria
Had enough of Bloody Marys? Ready to move onto something a little different? Try a Bloody Maria! While the name might not be totally inventive (with Maria being Spanish for Mary), the swap of vodka for tequila really elevates this classic cocktail and gives it an extra hit of flavour not achieved by the vodka. Let us know if you have a go!
Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
100ml tomato juice
12.5ml lemon juice
1tsp horseradish
3 dashes tabasco
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 pinch black pepper
lime wedge for garnish
lemon wedge for garnish
celery stick for garnish
Method
Add all ingredients except for garnishes to an ice filled shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a glass over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge, lime wedge and celery stick. Extra chilli optional!
Mexican Mule
We love super simple cocktails, and so today we’re travelling to the other side of the world to mix up a Mexican Mule! Tequila and lime are always a perfect match, but putting them with ginger beer really takes things up a notch and creates a delicious cocktail that is easy to make and very easy to drink!
Ingredients
60ml reposado tequila
15ml lime juice
10ml agave syrup/sugar syrup
good quality ginger beer
lime wedge for garnish
Method
Add the tequila, lime juice and agave syrup/sugar syrup to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake until ice cold. Strain into an ice filled glass and top up with ginger beer. Garnish with a wedge of lime and enjoy!
If you want to read more tequila recommendations, have a look at The Best Tequilas for Margaritas or The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas!
