Photo: CabecaDeMarmore (Getty Images)
Margaritas are the king on Cinco de Mayo , but there are also many more cocktails worthy of the holiday. This includes the bartender favorite, the Paloma . “Even better with Mezcal and a bottle of Mexican Squirt,” says Casey Lyons, lead bartender at Pacific Hideaway in Huntington Beach, California. “Just give me a bucket of ice and a grapefruit and please leave me alone.”
Another popular drink is el diablo . “This tequila drink combines creme de cassis, lime, and ginger beer, which is not only easy drinking, but absolutely refreshing,” says Cody Goldstein, cocktail consultant of Muddling Memories at The Flying Cock in New York City. “Oftentimes I will ask for the cocktail in a copper mug to make it extra cold. It’s a great alternative to the margarita for the holiday.”
But, those aren’t the only alternatives for Cinco de Mayo. Check out some other great choices below.
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Cinco De Mayo Cocktails
19° North
Ingredients:
2 parts Herradura Reposado 1 part fresh squeezed lime juice ½ - ¾ part agave nectar (to taste) 1 tablespoons of Sriracha sauce ½ part of pineapple juice
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake hard so that some of the ice melts, then strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Recipe by Tequila Herradura
Photo: Tequila Herradura
The Bartender Always Lives
Ingredients:
1/2 ounce Del Maguey Vida Mezcal 1/2 ounce jalapeno infused El Jimador blanco tequila 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce agave nectar 3 muddled baby tomatoes Cilantro
Recipe by Double Take in Los Angeles
Photo: Double Take
Catedral
Ingredients:
2 ounces Mezcal Danzantes Blanco 1 ounce Aperol 1 ounce late harvest wine ½ ounce simple syrup 1 dash lemon juice 5 raspberries
Directions:
Muddle the raspberries and mezcal in a cocktail shaker, add the remaining ingredients, and shake vigorously with ice. Serve double strained in a glass over ice. Garnish with a crushed ice shell with Angostura bitters and a skewer with lemon peel and raspberry.
Recipe by Mixologist Miguel Aquino at Dos Catrinas in Punta Mita, Mexico
Photo: Dos Catrinas
Crafted Paloma
Ingredients:
2 parts Altos Plata 2 part fresh grapefruit juice 1 part lemon juice ½ part agave syrup Pinch of salt
Directions:
Frost the glass rim with salt and crushed pink peppercorns. Pour all the ingredients except the grapefruit juice into the glass. Mix using the Altos molinillo to dissolve the agave syrup. Fill the glass with ice and finish with the pink grapefruit juice. Garnish with half slice of pink grapefruit.
Recipe by Altos Tequila
Photo: Altos Tequila
Horseshoe Margarita
Ingredients:
2 parts Herradura Silver 1 part fresh squeezed lime juice ½ - ¾ part agave nectar
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake hard so that some of the ice melts, then strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Recipe by Tequila Herradura
Photo: Tequila Herradura
Hennessy V.S.O.P. Privilege Jalapenia
Ingredients:
1 ½ ounces Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilѐge Cognac 3 ounces pineapple juice Jalapeño slice Pineapple wedge and basil leaf (for garnish)
Recipe by Hennessy Cognac
Photo: Hennessy Cognac
Smokin' Aces
Ingredients:
1 part Altos Plata 1 part Mezcal 1/2 part Lillet blanc 2 parts pineapple puree 1 bar spoon agave syrup 1 bar spoon lime juice
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with pineapple leaves.
Recipe by Altos Tequila
Photo: Altos Tequila
The Spicy Cilantro Mezcal
Ingredients:
2 ounces Sacrvm mezcal 3/4 ounces agave syrup 1/2 ounces rosemary clorofila juice 1 ounce fresh lime juice Fresh orange, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeño, green apple Spicy cricket and jalapeño salt (for glass rim)
Recipe by Casa Tu Cucina
Photo: Casa Tu Cucina