Tequila Cocktails

29 recipes

The Margarita may be the most ordered cocktail in the world, but tequila earns more than one drink. In Mexico the everyday choice is the Paloma, tequila with grapefruit soda and lime, and the savory end runs through the Vampiro and the Bloody Maria. These 29 recipes cover the full range.

Blanco tequila keeps citrus drinks bright; reposado adds vanilla and oak that suit rounder mixes. Every recipe includes exact measures, ABV and calories, plus a Tommy's Margarita for when you want pure agave instead of orange liqueur.

TequilaGrand MargaritaA margarita upgraded with Grand Marnier in place of triple sec, shaken hard with 100% agave tequila and fresh lime over a sea-salt rim. Richer orange…Easy4 ingredientsTequilaMargaritaAgave tequila, triple sec and freshly squeezed lime shaken and served against a salted rim. Tart, punchy and endlessly refreshing — the world's…Easy4 ingredientsTequilaNaked and famousEqual parts mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and lime shaken cold. Smoke, honeyed herbs and bitter orange in perfect modern balance.Easy4 ingredientsTequilaPalomaAgave tequila with fresh lime, a pinch of salt and pink grapefruit soda over ice. Mexico's true favorite tequila drink — brighter and easier than the…Easy5 ingredientsTequilaTequila SunriseTequila and orange juice over ice with grenadine sinking into a fiery gradient. The unstirred pour is the whole point — serve it glowing.Easy3 ingredientsTequilaTommy's Margarita100% agave tequila shaken with fresh lime and agave nectar — the margarita minus the orange liqueur. Cleaner, softer and all about the agave.Easy4 ingredientsTequilaVampiroTequila with tomato, orange and lime juices over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. Mexico's savory-sweet answer to the Bloody Mary.Easy6 ingredientsTequilaAmaretto Stone Sour AlternativeAmaretto and tequila shaken with sour mix, splashed with orange juice and garnished with fruit. The stone sour with an agave spine.Easy4 ingredientsTequilaApple GrandeChilled apple cider and tequila mixed in a tumbler. Orchard sweetness with an agave undercurrent — autumn's easiest cocktail.Easy2 ingredientsTequilaBloody MariaThe Bloody Mary's agave cousin: tequila shaken with tomato juice, Tabasco, celery salt and lemon over ice. Savory, spicy and made for brunch.Easy6 ingredientsTequilaBlue MargaritaA margarita gone electric — tequila and lime shaken with blue curacao and strained into a salt-rimmed glass. Same tart bite, unforgettable color.Easy4 ingredientsTequilaBrave Bull ShooterA half-ounce of Tabasco topped with tequila in a shot glass. Equal parts dare and drink — the burn is the point.Easy2 ingredientsTequilaEmpellón Cocina's Fat-Washed MezcalPork-fat-washed mezcal stirred with chocolate and coffee liqueurs — a savory, smoky New York restaurant original. The adobo-rib fat wash is a…Hard3 ingredientsTequilaGhost PepperTequila shaken with lime, triple sec and a pinch of ghost pepper heat, served in a chili-rimmed glass. A margarita that bites back.Easy5 ingredientsTequilaJalapeño MargaritaFresh jalapeno muddled with lime, then shaken with tequila and orange liqueur into a salt-rimmed glass. Classic margarita bones with a genuine chili…Medium6 ingredientsTequilaMistletoe MargaritaTequila shaken with Cointreau, cranberry and lime, served in a sugar-rimmed glass with a rosemary sprig. The margarita in its holiday sweater.Easy8 ingredientsTequilaMoranguitoAbsinthe and tequila layered over a base of grenadine. A Portuguese bar dare with an anise bark and a serious bite.Medium3 ingredientsTequilaPineapple PalomaTequila with grapefruit, lime and pineapple soda in a salt-and-pepper-rimmed glass. The paloma gone fully tropical.Easy6 ingredientsTequilaSmashed Watermelon MargaritaWatermelon and mint muddled to a puree, shaken with tequila, grapefruit and lime in a mason jar. A juicy, low-key backyard margarita.Medium7 ingredientsTequilaSpicy Mango BuckMezcal and blanco tequila shaken with lime, mango and spicy mango syrup, poured with ginger beer into a Tajin-rimmed highball. Smoke, spice and ripe…Medium7 ingredientsTequilaStrawberry MargaritaTequila, triple sec and strawberry schnapps shaken with fresh berries and lemon, served in a salt-rimmed glass. Summer's favorite margarita variation.Easy6 ingredientsTequilaSunrise CoolerTequila and orange juice over ice with grenadine sinking into a dawn-colored gradient. A softer, taller take on the tequila sunrise.Easy5 ingredientsTequilaTequila FizzTequila shaken with grenadine, lemon and egg white, then topped with ginger ale. A rosy, frothy fizz with agave attitude.Medium5 ingredientsTequilaTequila SlammerTequila and 7-Up mixed gently to keep the fizz, then slammed and drunk mid-foam. The bubbles are the whole show.Easy2 ingredientsTequilaTequila SourTequila shaken with lemon and powdered sugar, finished with a lemon slice and cherry. The sour formula with an earthy agave heart.Easy5 ingredientsTequilaTequila SurpriseA full shot of tequila with about eight drops of Tabasco. The surprise is exactly what you think it is.Easy2 ingredientsTequilaWhitecap MargaritaTequila blended with cream of coconut, fresh lime and a cup of ice until snowy. A frothy, coconut-capped margarita variation.Medium4 ingredientsTequilaWinter PalomaTequila with fresh lime, agave and a dash of tingling Timur pepper, topped with grapefruit juice. The paloma with a Himalayan spice passport.Easy5 ingredientsTequilaWinter RitaTequila shaken with lime, rosemary syrup, a bar-spoon of Campari and a whisper of orange, served over fresh ice with a salt rim. A margarita dressed…Easy6 ingredients

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