We have finally made it to the Guide to Classic Tequila Cocktails. And it's great to be here!
Vodka and whiskey are awesome, but tequila is the star of today's show!
For everyone who favors tequila over all other spirits, this guide is for you! Spice things up and have your tequila differently with one of our cocktail recipes! Let's get started!
Liquorama's Ultimate Tequila Guide
If you want to learn more about tequila before getting started on these tequila cocktails, check out our blog post, The Ultimate Guide To Tequila.
The guide goes over everything, including:
- How tequila is made
- How to sip tequila properly
- Food pairings that pair best with tequila
- The best garnishes for your tequila cocktails
- The best juice mixers for your tequila
- The best glass for your tequila cocktails
- The best temperature for serving
- How to store your tequila
Best Tequila Mixers
Let's go over some of the best mixers if you want to keep things simple. Sometimes you just want something fast and easy-tequila, mixer, and ice. That's all.
You would be surprised to know how many different mixers go well with tequila. Here are a few to choose from:
- Club Soda
- Coca Cola
- Lemon-lime soda
- Orange soda
- Ginger beer
- Pineapple juice
- Orange juice
- Pre-made Bloody Mary mix
- Coconut water
Best Tequila Chasers
While, yes, sometimes we need mixers for our tequila, other times you just need a shot and a chaser. And here we are. Of course, chill your shots before taking them to make your experience the smoothest possible. No one wants to drink warm tequila, am I right?
Here are some excellent tequila chasers for our chilled shots:
- Soda, any soda you want
- Beer, any beer you want
- Sparkling water
- Some salt and lime
- An orange slice
- A pretzel or really anything you're munching on.
- Juice, any juice will work... orange juice to grapefruit juice work great. Whatever you have on hand will do!
- Coconut water
Classic Tequila Cocktail Recipes
It's time for some of the most classic tequila cocktail recipes. From the most traditional and famous of them all, the Classic Margarita, to the some you may not order or know of, we're going to dive deep some tequila cocktail recipes. Here are 10 delicious tequila cocktails that everyone should know how to make! Your friends will thank you!
Let's get into it!
Classic Margarita
What kind of person would I be if I started this Classic Tequila Cocktail Guide with anything other than a Classic Margarita? After all, it's the most popular of all the tequila cocktails. And rightfully so!
Here is a delicious margarita recipe that will leave you and your friends craving one all year round! You'll need:
- 2 parts blanco tequila
- 1 part orange liqueur
- 1 part fresh lime juice (adjust to taste)
- Some coarse salt
- A few Lime wedges
Instructions
Run a lime wedge all around the rim of your glass and then dip it into coarse salt. In a shaker, add your blanco tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and ice. If you prefer your margaritas sweet, add some simple syrup or agave nectar. Shake well for 10 to 20 seconds until chilled.
Strain into your salt rim glass with ice.
Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy!
Tequila Sunrise
A Tequila Sunrise is a delicious, layered drink that's as appealing to the eye as it is to your palate. This one will have all of your friends in awe of your serious bartending talent! And it's easier to make than you might think. For a Tequila Sunrise, you'll need:
Instructions
In a tall glass, add your tequila, orange juice, and crushed ice. Down the side of the glass, drizzle your grenadine, so it sinks to the bottom, creating the gradient effect. This way, your orange juice and grenadine should stay separated.
Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. And if you have one, throw in a tropical umbrella topper. Serve and enjoy!
Paloma
Who loves grapefruit? Well, you're at the right cocktail recipe if you love the bursting flavor of grapefruit. Nothing goes together better than grapefruit and tequila! For a Paloma, you'll need:
- 2 oz tequila
- 2 oz grapefruit juice
- .5 - 1 oz agave syrup
- .5 oz fresh lime juice
- Some club soda or sparkling water
Instructions
In a shaker, add your tequila, grapefruit juice, agave syrup, fresh lime juice, and ice. Shake well and then strain into a glass with crushed ice. Top off with some club soda or sparkling water.
Garnish with a slice of grapefruit! Serve and enjoy!
Bloody Maria
The main difference between a Bloody Mary and a Bloody Maria is the choice of spirit. While a Bloody Mary is made with vodka, a Bloody Maria is made with tequila.
Everything below depends on your tastebuds. If you're not fond of a particular ingredient, leave it out. If you love something, add more of it. Your Bloody Maria is whatever you want it to be.
For now, this is what you'll need for a full-on make-it-yourself, Bloody Maria:
- 2 oz tequila (chilled)
- 4 oz tomato juice (chilled)
- 2-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 4 dashes of hot sauce (Tabasco and Tapatio)
- Splash of fresh lemon juice
- Some salt
- Some black pepper
- Cucumber slices
- Jalapeño slices
- Celery
- Lemon wedge
- Olives
Instructions
In a shaker, add your vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauces, lemon juice, a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper, and ice. Shake well and then strain into a glass.
Garnish with a slice of cucumber, a slice of jalapeño, celery, lemon wedge, and olives. Serve and enjoy!
Some side notes
Again, everything depends on your taste buds. Feel free to remove or add anything you wish. Many people use celery salt instead of regular salt. If you're a fan of celery, try it out. If you're a particular fan of different spices, throw them in there. You really can't go wrong!
As for the garnishes, you can garnish your Bloody Maria with just about anything. Throw a pickle on there! Or some pickled onions! Anything goes!
Have fun with it!
Ranch Water
Austin, Texas brought us Ranch Water and there's nothing extra about it. It's straightforward and there's something endearing about that. It's exactly what you need when you're looking for something refreshing and balanced.
For a classic Ranch Water, you're going to need:
- 3 oz blanco tequila
- 1.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Topo Chico
- Lime wedge
Instructions
Now, usually, I would say use whatever sparkling water that you wish. But the classic isn't up for debate. It's all about the Topo Chico in the original.
In a glass of ice, add your blanco tequila and fresh lime juice. Stir briefly. Top off with your Topo Chico.
Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy!
Tequila Punch
If you're looking for something to serve in a batch, then Tequila Punch is a great option. Make a huge jug of it to keep everyones thirst quenched.
Here's what you'll need for a jug of refreshingly delicious Tequila Punch:
- 4 cups blanco tequila
- 4 cups cranberry juice
- 4 cups orange juice
- 4 cups grapefruit juice or pineapple juice
- orange slices
Instructions
In a jug, combine your blanco tequila, cranberry juice, orange juice, and grapefruit or pineapple juice. Stir together.
Garnish with an orange slice and serve in a glass of ice. Enjoy!
Matador
And next, we have a Matador for the pineapple lovers. It may not be as popular as a Margarita, but it's definitely as refreshing and delicious. Shake things up with a Matador cocktail!
For a Matador, you will need:
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Lime wedge or slice of pineapple
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, add your blanco tequila, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and ice.
Because pineapple juice tends to be sweet on its own, adjust the simple syrup to taste. If you have a sweet tooth, add the simple syrup. If you don't like your drinks overly sweet, do not add the simple syrup. It's up to you.
Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with either a lime wedge or pineapple slice. Serve and enjoy!
Mexican Mule
Who loves a Moscow Mule but loves tequila even more? I have a solution for you. A Mexican Mule. Here is everything you'll need for a Mexican Mule:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 4 oz ginger beer
- Some lime slices
- Some jalapeño slices
- Some tajín
- Chamoy (optional)
Instructions
Get your copper mug out for this one. Run a lime along the rim of your copper mug and dip into tajín. (If you want to go a step further and you have chamoy on hand, you can dip your rim in chamoy, then tajín.)
Add some ice to your copper mug. Then, add your tequila and fresh lime juice. Stir briefly. Top with your ginger beer.
Garnish with a slice of lime and a sliced jalapeños. Serve and enjoy!
Cantarito
It's Cantarito time! Cantaritos are widely popular in the Jalisco area in Mexic0. They're usually served in a clay pot, and it's quite the experience to watch your bartender make one in front of you!
Here's what you'll need:
- 2 oz tequila (preferably blanco or reposado tequila)
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1 oz grapefruit juice
- 4 oz grapefruit soda (Squirt is used most often)
- Some salt
- Some orange slices
- Chamoy (optional)
- Tajín (optional)
Instructions
Many people like to rim their clay pot (or glass) with chamoy and tajín. Although this may not be part of the classic recipe, it has become quite popular to do so. So whether or not you add the chamoy and tajín is up to you and your tastebuds.
If you have a clay pot to serve your Cantarito in, use it! If not, don't worry. Take your glass and fill it with a generous amount of ice. Add a pinch of salt, tequila of your choosing, orange juice, lime juice, and grapefruit juice. Top with roughly 4 oz of grapefruit soda.
Garnish with an orange slice. Serve and enjoy!
El Diablo
Last but certainly not least, we have the El Diablo. For an El Diablo, you'll need:
- 1.5 oz reposado tequila
- 1/2 oz crème de cassis
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 3 oz ginger beer
- A lime wedge
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, combine your reposado tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, and ice. Shake well. Strain in a highball glass with ice. Top with roughly 3 oz of ginger beer.
Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy!
What is Crème de cassis?
If you're not familiar with crème de cassis, here's what you can expect from it. It's a sweet and ripe liqueur that is made of macerated blackcurrants. It's very fragrant with a fruity aroma. If you're looking for something else to do with crème de cassis, put some in your white wine or champagne!
It's Tequila Time
It's time for tequila cocktails. The only way to get started is to get your hands on some tequila.
Check out the Liquorama website to see our wide selection of tequila. We have several options, including blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo. But that's not all. We even have quite a few cristalino tequila options.
Are you looking for something else? Don't worry! We have other spirits, wines, and beers!
Liqurama is here for all of your liquor needs!