The Best Cocktails To Drink On National Tequila Day

On July 24 we are celebrating National Tequila Day with sips of the magical Mexican potion. Tequila is produced only in certain parts of Mexico using the regional blue agave plant. The most traditional way to drink this spirit is neat, without lime or salt.  From extra añejos to a rare, crystal-clear Joven, there’s no wrong way to enjoy tequila. Now, Mexico’s native spirit like Mezcal is more versatile in cocktails than ever before so we have rounded up  some fantastic agave-centric cocktails worth sipping this summer. From a next level margarita, to a spicy twist to an old fashioned, here is our selection of the top libations to try.

Raspberry Fizz

Ingredients:

• 7 to 9 Fresh Raspberries
• 2 oz Espanita Blanco Tequila
• 1 tsp Agave Nectar
• 2or 3 small Mint leaves
• Juice of half a Lime
• A splash of sparklingwine, such as Prosecco

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, combine ripe raspberries, agave nectar and freshly pressed lime juice until juices are released. Add two or three small mint leaves and muddle lightly, trying to release the aroma without breaking the leaves. When all ingredients are combined, add Espanita Blanco tequila, a handful of ice and shaketo chill. Strain the cocktail through the fine mesh strainer into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top the drink with a splash of Prosecco and stir lightly. Garnish with a raspberry and serve immediately.

Going Green

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Espanita Anejo Tequila
• 4 oz Simply Lemonade
• 3 Sprigs Cilantro
• 4-5 Slices of Cucumber
• Garnish: several thin Cucumber slices

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle together 2-3 sprigs of cilantro and 4-5 thin cucumber slices to release the flavors. Add Espanita Anejo tequila and chilled Simply Lemonade, stir well to combine. Strain the cocktail into a tall glass filled with ice through a fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and cucumber seeds. Add several slices of cucumber and stir into the drink. Garnish with a sprig of Cilantro.

Blueberry Smash with Espanita

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of fresh or frozen blueberries, plus several blueberries for garnish
• 1 teaspoons fresh
• 5 oz lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon blueberry or blackberry jam
• 2 oz Espanita Reposado tequila
• 5 oz Orange Liqueur (such as Cointreau)
• A splash of Prosecco for topping
• Rim: Sugar

Method:

Rim your glasses in sugar, then fill the glass with crushed ice. Next,  in a cocktail shaker, muddle the blueberries, thyme, and lemon juice, squashing everything to release the juices. Add the jam, orange liqueur andEspanita Reposado tequila. Fill the shaker with ice and shake until combined. Now,  strain into prepared glass. Top the drink off with Prosecco, then gently stir to combine. Garnish with several blueberries and a sprig of thyme.

Cutwater Tequila Blanco Watermelon Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Cutwater Tequila Blanco
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave syrup
• 1/2 oz watermelon juice
• *optional dash of spicy bitters

Method:

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake until cold and strain over fresh ice in a  rimmed glass. Garnish with a watermelon.

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Cutwater Tequila Blanco Grill & Chill

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Cutwater Tequila Blanco
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave syrup
• 3-4 grilled pineapple chunks
• 1 fresh ginger slice
• 1 pinch of cilantro

Method:

Grill pineapple, ginger, and cilantro in a cocktail shaker. Add tequila, lime juice, agave, and ice. Shake until cold. Strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a piece of grilled pineapple and a cilantro sprig.

Spicy Cucumber Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Corralejo Silver Tequila
• 4 slices of cucumber
• 2 slices of jalapeno
• ¾ ounce agave syrup
• 1 oz lime juice

Method:

Rim your glass with salt, add cucumber and jalapeno to the shaker and gently muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients to the shaker. Shake to chill and combine ingredients. Fine strain into a low-ball glass. Garnish & Enjoy!

Spicy Pineapple Palmoa

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Corralejo Silver Tequila
• ½ ounce grapefruit juice
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ sliced Serrano pepper
• ¾ ounce agave syrup
• Pineapple soda (to top)
• Tajín (for rim)

Method:

Rim your glass with Tajín. Add all ingredients except the bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients. Strain into your glass over fresh ice. Top with pineapple soda. Garnish & Enjoy.

Strawberry Basil Paloma

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Los Arango Reposado
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• ½ oz agave syrup
• 2 chopped strawberries
• 5 basil leaves
• Soda to top
• Smoked sea salt for rim

Method:

Rim your glass with smoked sea salt. Combine all ingredients except soda in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill and combine ingredients. Fine strain into a hi-ball glass over fresh ice. Top with soda. Garnish & Enjoy.

Los Arango Rose

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Los Arango Añejo
• ¾ oz lime juice
• ½ oz agave syrup
• ½ oz grenadine

Method:

Include all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill and combine ingredients. Fine strain into a coupe glass. Garnish & Enjoy.

JAJA-peño Margarita

Ingredients:

• 5 oz JAJA Blanco
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz Agave Syrup
• 2 Jalapeño slices

Method

Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice to chill the mixture and pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a rounded lime and serve!

The Mercadito

By Jaime Salas, Milagro Tequila National Ambassador

Ingredients:

• 2 Parts Milagro Silver
• ¾ Part Agave Nectar
• 1 Part Fresh Lime Juice
• 4 Cucumber slices
• 1 Pinch Cilantro
• 1 Thin Jalapeño Slice

Method:

Muddle cucumber, cilantro and jalapeño slice in a Boston shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish cocktail with cucumber slice and cilantro sprig.

Glass: Rocks

3 Raspados

By Jaime Salas, Milagro Tequila National Ambassador

Ingredients:

• 2 Parts Milagro Silver
• 1 Part Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 Part Fruit Juice (Lime/Mango/Papaya)
• ½ Part Agave Nectar

Method:

Combine everything in a shaker with ice and shake until frosty. Using your method of choice, make your “snow” in a cone or rocks glass, and pour the mix over.

The Mayan Mule

 By Jaime Salas, Milagro Tequila National Ambassador

Ingredients:

• 2 Parts Milagro Reposado
• ½ Part Fresh Lime Juice
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 3 Parts Ginger Beer
• Mint sprigs
• Lime wheel

Method:

Place 2-3 ice cubes in a Collins glass. Add fresh squeezed lime juice, Milagro Reposado, ginger beer and bitters. Garnish with mint sprigs and a lime wheel.

Agave Swizzle

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Camarena Reposado
• .75 oz. Agave Nectar
• .75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 4 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 8 to 10 Mint Leaves

Method:

Place mint leaves at the bottom of the glass. Gently muddle the leaves with a muddler. Add remaining ingredients (except bitters) into a collins glass and fill with crushed ice. Take a bar spoon and “swizzle” holding the spoon in the palm of your hands and twirl until the glass frosts. Top with the bitters. Garnish with a bouquet of mint.

Pink Sky

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Camarena Silver
• .5 oz. Liber & CO. Texas Grapefruit Shrub
• .5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• Heavy Bar Spoon of Strawberry Puree
• Top with Ginger Beer

Method:

Include ingredients (except ginger beer) into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously to lightly muddle strawberries into the mixture. Strain into a collins glass filled with fresh ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a slice of strawberry and mint.

Camarena Cantarito

Ingredients:

• 5 oz. Camarena Silver
• 1 oz. Orange Juice
• 1 oz. Fresh Lemon or Lime Juice (preferred)
• 1 oz. Grapefruit or Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
• Top with Lemon Lime or Grapefruit Soda (preferred)

Method:

Add all ingredients into a collins glass filled with ice. Stir together to combine/chill. Garnish with fresh lemon, lime, and orange quarters

Corralejo Spicy Pineapple Paloma

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Corralejo Silver
• ½ oz grapefruit juice
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ sliced Serrano pepper
• ¾ oz agave syrup
• Pineapple soda (to top)
• Tajín (for rim)

Method:

Rim your glass with Tajín. Next, addall ingredients except the bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard to chill. Then, strain into glass over fresh ice.  Top with pineapple soda. Garnish & Enjoy!

Corralejo Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2½ oz Corralejo Añejo
• ¾ oz agave syrup
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a rocks glass with ice. Next, stir to mix all ingredients. Garnish & Enjoy.

 Sweet Heat Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Tanteo® Jalapeño Tequila
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz Agave nectar
• 4-5 muddled raspberries

Method:

Muddle raspberries and combine other ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with raspberry skewer.

Corralejo Tequila Tropical

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Corralejo Añejo
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 5 dashes aromatic bitters

Method:

Add all ingredients except the bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Next, shake hard to chill. Then, strain into glass over crushed ice.Top with aromatic bitters.Garnish & Enjoy!

Nosotros Blood + Sand

Ingredients:

• ¾ oz Nosotros Reposado
• ¾ oz orange juice (preferably blood orange)
• ¾ oz cherry heering
• ¾ oz dry vermouth
• 3 dash vanilla extract

Method:

Include all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with an orange peel and a cherry.

Camarena Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver
• ¾ oz Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar
• ¾ oz Lime Juice
• ½ oz Triple Sec

Method:

Add ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously.Strain into a glass filled with ice.Next, garnish with lime wedge (or fresh sliced jalapeños, if you want to spice it up).

Blood Orange

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ oz DeLeón Platinum Tequila
• 1 oz Blood Orange Juice
• ½ oz Lime Juice
• ¼ oz Agave
• Club soda

Method: 

Combine all ingredients together in cocktail shaker with ice, except for club soda.  Shake vigorously until chilled.  Next, strain into rocks glass with ice.  Top with club soda.

The Next Level Platinum Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz DeLeón Tequila
• ¾ oz Lime Juice
• ½ oz Simple Syrup
• Salt

Method:

Rub the rim of the glass with the lime slice to make the salt stick. Shake the other ingredients with ice, then carefully pour into a margarita or rocks glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

Photos: Courtesy

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