Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration honoring Mexico's victory over the French Empire back in 1862. Often confused with Mexico's Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo is typically more widely celebrated in the United States than in Mexico. Ceremonial celebrations mark the day with reenactments and military parades. Commemorate the day by raising a glass with Cinco de Mayo drinks or a cocktail or two.
Cinco de Mayo Drinks With Tequila
Tequila is a native Mexican spirits, so it's perfect in drinks to toast Cinco de Mayo.
Margarita
It would be remiss to skip the classic margarita for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Tequila Mint Julep
This tequila mint julep, or julep margarita, is a refreshing cocktail that uses fresh mint to bring the tequila to life.
Ingredients
- 6-7 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces añejo tequila
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice and tequila.
- Stir to frost glass and chill drink.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Tequila Sunrise
Few tequila drinks are more eye-catching than the gradient hues of the juicy tequila sunrise.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 3 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or hurricane glass, add ice, tequila, orange juice, and orange liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Pour in grenadine, allowing it to sink.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Blue Crush
A sweet yet slightly tart cocktail can skew the flavors by changing the salt rim for a sweet sugar rim.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- ¾ ounce blue curaçao
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, blue curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Paloma
The paloma drink is a far more popular cocktail in Mexico than margaritas--take a sip, and you'll quickly understand why.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or rocks glass, add ice, tequila, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with grapefruit wedge.
Ranch Water
Ranch water is a simple highball with complex flavors that'll keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Pinch of salt
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and salt.
- Stir well to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Cantarito
Typically served in a clay pot, you can skip the kiln and use a rocks glass as well.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces reposado tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-2 pinches of salt
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, tequila, orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and salt.
- Stir well to mix and chill.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Pink Señorita
This cocktail is the perfect blend of pink lemonade and a classic margarita. What could be better?
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and sugar for garnish
- 2 ounces tequila
- 2 ounces pink lemonade
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, pink lemonade, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Nonalcoholic Cinco de Mayo Drinks
Whether the little ones want to join in or you want a drink free of spirits, these fit the bill.
Nonalcoholic Tequila Sunrise
This mocktail tequila sunrise might be even better than the original.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Pour in grenadine, allowing it to sink.
- Garnish with orange slice, if desired.
Mocktail Pineapple Margarita
This almost pineapple margarita may have you drinking this before your cocktails, and it's that good.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1½ ounces limeade
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Pineapple wedge and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pineapple juice, limeade, orange juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and mint sprig.
Nonalcoholic Paloma
The paloma is a simple cocktail to turn into a mocktail! You could easily serve this alongside any of the other cocktails.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Grapefruit wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with grapefruit wheel.
Mocktail Pink Señorita
Treat yourself to a pink señorita, but skip the tequila, and you'll find this rivals its adult counterpart.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pink lemonade
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pink lemonade, lemon juice, orange juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Celebrate With Cinco de Mayo Cocktails
There's more to Cinco de Mayo cocktails than margaritas, although there's nothing wrong with that being the star of the show. Give a few other Cinco de Mayo mixed drinks or nonalcoholic drinks a try, and you just may find a new favorite or two. A tequila and soda is a good starting point.
