What are the best cinco de mayo cocktails?
- Corona Sunrise Tequila
- Paloma
- Michelada
- Oaxaca Old Fashioned
- Lychee Tequila Shooter
- Spanish Harlem
Cinco de Mayo is, to many drinkers, a chance to celebrate Mexico and all the great spirits it has to offer (through the copious ingestion of said spirits). It’s a festive day filled with ice-cold cervezas and biting tequilas, paired with lots of delicious Mexican fare.
If you’re planning a celebration of your own for this year’s Cinco de Mayo, look no further — these Cinco de Mayo cocktails take all the best things about Mexican spirits and beer, and turn them into impressive drinks fit to kick off your celebrations. Read on!
Corona Sunrise Tequila
The Corona Sunrise Cocktail — also known as a Mexican Sunrise — is a fun, classic beer cocktail recipe that’s just perfect for the May heat. It’s with some of the best beer the country has to offer and mixed in with some tequila, orange juice, grenadine, and lime. The result? A chilled beer cocktail that’s citrusy, sweet, and easy to make — and pairs well with Carnitas and Barbacoa!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of Corona beer — use the Corona Extra.
- 1½ ounces Tequila — try our Tequila Corralejo Blanco.
- 1½ ounces Orange juice.
- ½ ounce Grenadine.
- 1 Fresh Lime, cut into thin wedges for garnish.
Steps:
- Drink or pour out your Corona from the bottle until the remaining beer reaches around the top of the beer label.
- Add your tequila, orange juice, and grenadine into the bottle.
- Completely cover the opening of your Corona bottle, and gently turn upside down then right side up again a few times to mix.
- Squeeze some lime juice to top off your cocktail, and enjoy!
Paloma
If you really want to celebrate the country, then you have to try Mexico’s favorite drink — the Paloma. It’s a wonderful combination of classic cocktail ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. It's an easy-to-make cooler that is refreshing and zippy. Try it yourself at home and you’ll see why the Paloma is so widely popular in its home country!
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Tequila — we recommend Tequila Corralejo Blanco.
- ½ ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed.
- Some chilled Grapefruit soda, to top.
- Lime wedges and wheels, to garnish
- Salt (optional, for a salt rim).
Steps:
- Get a highball glass, and rub a lime wedge along the rim. Then, dip the rim in salt (optional).
- Add your tequila and lime juice into the glass, then add some ice.
- Top it with your chilled grapefruit soda, and stir gently till fully mixed.
- Garnish it with a lime wheel, and serve.
Michelada
Beer is great — it’s an indisputable fact. And beer cocktails combine the best of two drinks, which everyone can enjoy. The best of the best has to be the Michelada — a Mexican classic that kicks up the flavor of local beer with an assortment of citrus and spices. Make this cocktail at home and turn your Coronas on their head with this spicy recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 pinch of salt.
- 1 pinch of cayenne pepper.
- 1 pinch of ground black pepper.
- 1 pinch celery salt.
- 1 lime wedge.
- ½ ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed.
- 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce.
- 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce.
- 1 bottle of Corona beer, chilled.
- 1 lime wedge, to garnish.
Steps:
- Add the salt and cayenne pepper to a small plate or bowl, and mix.
- Get a pint glass, and rub the lime wedge along half the rim. Then, dip the rim into the salt-cayenne mix.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, tabasco, lime juice, black pepper, and celery salt into your pint glass.
- Fill with Corona beer, and garnish with the lime wedge. Enjoy!
Oaxaca Old Fashioned
A riff on the classic whiskey cocktail, Old Fashioned, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned takes in the oaky flavors in reposado tequila to mimic the distinct taste of great whiskey. Paired with some mezcal, Angostura bitters, and agave nectar, this cocktail is smokey and slightly sweet — delicious!
Ingredients:
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 ½ ounces of Reposado Tequila — use our Cenote Premium Reposado.
- ½ ounce Mezcal — we suggest our Mezcal Se Busca Joven.
- 1 teaspoon Agave Nectar
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Orange peels, to garnish.
Steps:
- Get an Old Fashioned glass with one large ice cube. Add in your Reposado Tequila, Mezcal, Agave Nectar, and Angostura bitters.
- Stir gently until well-chilled.
- Flame your orange peel over the top of the drink to express orange oils.
- Garnish with the peel. Serve and enjoy!
Lychee Tequila Shooter
The lychee tequila shooters are a delightful fusion of Asian and Mexican tastes, making it one of the best tequila shooter recipes out there. Semisweet and extremely easy to whip up at a party, it offers a mix of flavors that you and your friends will certainly enjoy this Cinco de Mayo.
Ingredients:
- ¾ ounce Blanco Tequila — we recommend our Tequila Corralejo Blanco.
- ¾ ounce Lychee Liqueur.
Steps:
- Get a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice.
- Pour in the Blanco Tequila and Lychee Liqueur. Shake well.
- Strain and pour into a shot glass.
- Hand it off to the drinker, and bottoms up!
Spanish Harlem
The tequila twist on another classic cocktail — the Manhattan — the Spanish Harlem is as simple as any other martini recipe you can think of. And, it’s a beautiful way to use the rich vanilla and cinnamon flavors of Añejo Tequila. Mix in some sweet vermouth and some bitters, and you’ll be able to enjoy the nuanced character of some of the finest tequila you can try.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Añejo Tequila — El Amo Anejo Tequila.
- 1/2 ounce Sweet Vermouth.
- 1 dash of bitters (of your choice).
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish (optional).
Steps:
- Get a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice.
- Pour in the Añejo Tequila, Sweet Vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir gently with a bar spoon until chilled. This takes about 30 seconds to a minute.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a Maraschino cherry (optional), then serve.
Key Takeaway
Cinco de Mayo is coming up again! Celebrated around the world with festivals and parades, it is one of the biggest celebrations of Mexican culture — so let us raise a glass on May 5th with these Cinco de Mayo cocktails!
Wondering where to get high-quality Mexican tequila and beer for your drinks? Ralph’s Wines & Spirits is here to help. Check out our tequila collection here, or order a few packs of our Corona beer for your party.
