11 Of The Best Tequila Drinks Home Bartenders Can Make For World Tequila Day

Author: Srishti M

Introduction

When it comes to tequila drinks, people often consider a limited menu. World Tequila Day, celebrated on July 24, is as good a reason as any to look at the many applications of tequila in cocktails; it’s as wide as any other spirit.

Tequila cocktails range from sweet mixes like the classic Tequila Sunrise to savoury delights like the continuously popular Picante. Then there is the Margarita cocktail, arguably one of the most well-recognised tequila cocktails that has also birthed several variations. So, if you’re looking for the best tequila drinks to try making at home, take a look at this list.

Brand references in the recipes are indicative and can be changed as per personal preference.

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The Classic Margarita

Margarita, from the sour family of cocktails, mixes a spirit with sweet and citrus elements to create a perfectly balanced drink. The classic version includes a blanco tequila, like the Don Julio Blanco, as the base spirit. Orange liqueur provides the sweetness while lime juice gives it the required acidity. Usually garnished with a wedge of lime, it’s served in a salt-rimmed glass.

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Don Limonada Cocktail

A simple, bright drink the Don Limonada Cocktail combines blanco tequila with agave syrup, sparkling water, lemon slices and mint sprig. At its core, this cocktail showcases blanco tequila so it’s best to go with a premium bottle. And make sure to muddle the mint to release the oils and aroma.

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Tequila Sunrise

No tricky techniques and limited ingredient list makes Tequila Sunrise an easy drink to make for home bartenders and professionals alike. From the 1970s, when it was first developed, to the present day, this tequila drink has remained a consistent addition to cocktail menus.

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Spicy Margarita

Spicy Margarita is one of the most common variations of the classic tequila drink, next only to the summer fruit-flavour variants like Watermelon Margarita. Unlike seasonal variants, this one can be made all-year long because it adds jalapenos to the mix. The rim of the glass may also be rubbed with salt and spice, like Tajin spice, rather than just salt.

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Blue Margarita

A colourful, tropical twist on the classic, Blue Margarita cocktail combines tequila with the tangy notes of blue curaçao. Thanks to it distinctive appearance, crisp, fresh profile, and simple technique (shake-strain-serve), this tequila drink is easy enough to try at home but creative enough to serve at a get together.

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Paloma Cocktail

One of Mexico’s most iconic serves, the Paloma cocktail commbines tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime juice. That’s it! The simplicity, however, doesn’t end at the ingredients. It’s in the way the cocktail is built - directly in a highball glass over ice, without any shaking.

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Don Paloma Cocktail

While a Paloma is traditionally made from blanco tequila, this version uses the Don Julio Reposado tequila. You can opt for any reposado of your choice. The distinct richness of the reposado better highlights the drink’s sweet and tart flavours.

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Cantarito

A paloma-style highball, but with more ingredients, Cantarito is a citrusy tequila drink made with Reposado tequila. In addition to the usual Paloma ingredients, it adds orange and grape juice to the mix. It’s traditionally served in a rimmed Cantarito cup (a tall, clay cup).

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Tequila Mockingbird

Though considered a riff on the Margarita, Tequila Mockingbird has a distinctive character. For this tequila drink, you need to add watermelon wedges and jalapeno slices to a mix of reposado, agave syrup, and lime juice. The watermelon and jalapeno are muddled to extract their juices. This lends a subtle flavour and spice to the cocktail that builds complex layers in every sip.

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Don Julio Spicy Margarita

Most popular versions of a spicy margarita resort to jalapenos but this tequila drink uses tabasco instead, for a spicier flavour. The drink also employs sugar syrup and orange liqueur, both, to balance the spice from a few dashes of tabasco.

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Pineapple Paloma Cocktail

A tropical take on the classic tequila drink, the Pineapple Paloma is smooth, fruity, and aromatic. To bring out the contrast with the sweet, tangy pineapple, the glass uses a rim of chilli-lime seasoning or finely ground black pepper.

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Conclusion

When it comes to tequila cocktails, your menu can have classics, creative twists on classics, and contemporary cocktails. It isn’t about which drink is better, but rather which flavour is the preferred choice. And as this list shows, tequila is versatile enough to cater to different needs, tastes, and techniques.

*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.

FAQs:

Some of the most famous tequila cocktails are the Margarita, Picante, Paloma, and Tequila Sunrise, among others. These drinks showcase tequila's versatility, from bright and citrusy to fresh and spicy.

Srishti M

Srishti Magan is a writer and editor with over eight years of experience across lifestyle and entertainment. She looks for stories in food and beverages, enjoys analysing movies and pop culture, and continues to believe in the power of the written word. Outside of work, she gravitates toward fiction, rewatches her favourite sitcoms more times than is healthy, and is always in search of a well-made cocktail.