When people think of Mexican drinks, things like Margaritas and tequila shots normally come to mind, but there's an entire world of incredibly flavorful Mexican cocktails that you probably aren't as familiar with. Inspired by the country's favorite beverages and it's beloved culinary style, here are sixteen of Mexico's most famous drinks.
1. Classic Margarita
Perhaps the best-known Mexican cocktail is the margarita, and it's one of the most common drinks to order at bars. You can flavor this drink with just about any ingredient out there, but the classic goes for a simple citrus flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 lime wedges for garnish
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt for garnish
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- 1½ ounces orange liqueur
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Ice
Instructions
- Run one of the lime wedges around the rim of a margarita glass and dip it into a plate of Kosher salt to coat the rim. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, orange liqueur, and silver tequila. Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared margarita glass and garnish with the other lime wedge.
2. Paloma
The paloma cocktail is another popular Mexican drink that's famous for its fizzy, fruity flavor which comes from one of its main ingredients - grapefruit soda.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice and tequila. Add ice and shake to chill. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top with grapefruit soda.
3. Mezcalita
The mezcalita incorporates the spirit mezcal, rather than tequila, in its recipe and combines it with simple syrup, lime juice, and orange juice for a fruity mixture.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, lime juice, orange juice, and mezcal.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange peel.
4. Charro Negro
This Mexican take on a classic rum and Coke mixes together lime juice, gold tequila, and cola for a delicious mid-day drink.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces gold tequila
- Ice
- Cola
- 1 lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a tall glass filled with ice, pour the lime juice and tequila.
- Top with cola and stir together.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
5. Chavela
Mexico's chavela invokes the Bloody Mary, but heats it up with spices, a spicy cocktail rim, and native Mexican spirits for a picante tomato juice cocktail.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Tajin for garnish
- Ice
- 3 ounces tomato juice
- Dash hot sauce
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- Mexican beer
- 1 celery stick for garnish (optional)
- 1 lime wedge for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a pint glass, coat the rim in lime juice and dip it into a plate of Tajin.
- Add ice and pour the tomato juice, hot sauce, and tequila. Stir.
- Top with Mexican beer and garnish with the optional celery stick and lime wedge.
6. Vampiro
Another spicy drink, the vampiro balances its hot seasonings with citrus sodas and Sangrita for a sweet and spicy experience.
Ingredients
- Ice
- Dash chili powder
- Dash Tajin
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces citrus soda
- 3 ounces Sangrita
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- 1 lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass filled with ice, pour the chili powder, Tajin, lime juice, citrus soda, Sangrita, and silver tequila.
- Using a cocktail spoon, mix them together thoroughly and garnish with a lime wedge.
7. Tepache
To make an alcoholic Tepache cocktail, you first have to ferment a pineapple and spice mixture for two days before adding tequila to it. Once completed, the resulting beverage is sweet and heady.
Ingredients
- 1 Pineapple, peeled
- 1 cup Piloncillo, diced (or dark brown sugar)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 2 quarts filtered water
- Ice
- 2 ounces vodka
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the pineapple peels, piloncillo, cinnamon stick, clove, and water.
- Cover with cheesecloth and let it ferment at room-temperature for about twenty-four hours.
- Check after 24-hours and remove any white foam that's collected at the top. Cover again and let ferment for another 24-hours.
- Strain the mixture into a separate pitcher.
- In an ice filled glass, pour the vodka and top with the fermented pineapple beverage.
- Stir thoroughly and serve.
8. Tequila Old Fashioned
No matter where you are, there's at least one person nursing an old fashioned, and one way to give it a Mexican makeover is to put tequila in it instead.
Ingredients
- 1 orange slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1 sugar cube
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Splash club soda
- 2 ounces gold tequila
- Ice
- 1 orange slice for garnish
- 1 cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In an old fashioned glass, muddle the orange slice, maraschino cherry, sugar cube, bitters, and splash of club soda.
- Remove the solids and add the tequila.
- Add ice and stir together, topping with an orange and cherry skewer.
9. Chico
The chico cocktail gets its name from the popular mineral water, Topo Chico, that's used to top off this blackberry and silver tequila cocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces blackberry liqueur
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Topo Chico
- Raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass filled with ice, add the lemon juice, simple syrup, blackberry liqueur, and silver tequila.
- Top with Topo Chico and garnish with some raspberries.
10. Cinco De Mayo
There's no better way to ring in Cinco De Mayo than to enjoy this simple cocktail that combines lime juice, grenadine, and tequila.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce grenadine
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, grenadine, and tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange wedge.
11. El Gavilan
This paloma-variation was named after a famous Mexican song and unites a complex series of ingredients for a tart and bubbly cocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce grapefruit juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce demerara simple syrup
- Dash Angostura bitters
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Jarritos grapefruit soda
- Lime wedge for garnish (optional)
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice and top with Jarritos grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with the optional lime wedge and grapefruit wedge and serve.
12. Chihuahua
Inspired by the classic greyhound cocktail, this recipe utilizes tequila instead of vodka or gin.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Grapefruit juice
- Orange slice for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a cocktail glass filled with ice, pour the tequila.
- Top with grapefruit juice and stir using a cocktail spoon.
- Garnish with the optional orange slices and serve.
13. La Cucaracha
Don't let this drink's unappealing name fool you, it's a delicious alternative to your average coffee order.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Kahlua
- 1½ ounces tequila
- Splash white rum (optional)
Instructions
- In an old fashioned glass, combine the Kahlua and tequila. Stir.
- For a special presentation, you can add a splash of white rum and set it on fire. Be careful to drink the cocktail using a straw so as not to burn yourself.
14. Carajillo
This two-ingredient morning or mid-day cocktail combines one of Mexico's all-time favorite spirits, Licor 43, with a cup of hot espresso.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Espresso
- 1 ounce Licor 43
- Ice
Instructions
- In an ice-filled glass, pour the freshly brewed espresso.
- Add ice and the Licor 43 and stir.
15. Matador
Making a matador is particularly fun because it utilizes so many different ingredients in the home bar, such as juices, syrups, bitters, and spirits to create a lovely fruity flavor.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- Dash Angostura bitters
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- 1 pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the lime juice, simple syrup, pineapple juice, bitters, and tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a flute and garnish with a pineapple wedge.
16. Mexican Madras
Pack in your daily dose of antioxidants with this Mexican madras cocktail that combines lime juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and tequila.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange juice
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce silver tequila
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and silver tequila.
- In a highball glass or mason jar, strain the mixture and garnish with a lime wedge.
Diversify Your Palate
It's all too easy to become complacent with our food and drink choices; however, sometimes the best cocktail or dinner plate we're ever going to have is waiting around the corner. It's time to diversify your palate, and one way you can start is by making yourself one of these traditional Mexican cocktails. You don't have to cancel your Margarita Mondays, but maybe try adding Tepache Tuesdays or Chico Fridays to your weekly lineup to experiment with bringing international flavors into your home. You can manage it with something as simple as a tequila and soda.
