Cocktails · Tequila & Mezcal
Six tequila cocktails worth making at home: the classic margarita, ranch water, spicy pineapple margarita, batanga, cantarito, and a smoky Oaxaca old fashioned, each with a zero-proof twin.
Tequila cocktails go far beyond the margarita, though we’ll start there, because a real margarita (tequila, fresh lime, orange liqueur, nothing else) is one of the best drinks in the world. These six cover bright and citrusy, long and fizzy, spicy, and smoky and stirred. Each has a zero-proof twin on the same card (tap 🌿 Mocktails at the top), and there’s a fresh Paloma in our mocktail recipes too.
Buy 100% agave tequila. Anything else is a “mixto” with added sugars, and you’ll taste it.
Two ounces of tequila, one of fresh lime, and three-quarters of orange liqueur, shaken hard. No sour mix, no syrup unless you want it. Salt only half the rim so each sip can be salty or not.
Squeeze the limes the same day. Bottled lime juice makes a flat, bitter margarita.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Tequila, lime, and orange liqueur, 2 : 1 : ¾.
Garnish: Half salt rim, lime wheel
Garnish: Half salt rim, lime wheel
How the swap works: A non-alcoholic agave spirit is the closest stand-in for tequila. No bottle? Use 2 oz of chilled strong green tea for the vegetal bite. Orange juice and agave replace the orange liqueur.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
West Texas’s answer to a hot afternoon: tequila and lime topped with the fizziest mineral water you can find. It’s refreshing, very low in sugar, and needs no shaker.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Tequila, lime, and very bubbly mineral water.
Garnish: Two lime wedges
Garnish: Two lime wedges
How the swap works: Ranch water is mostly bubbles and lime, so the twin just needs something for bite: a jalapeño slice and a pinch of salt do it.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Pineapple softens tequila, and two slices of muddled jalapeño add a slow, warming burn. A chili-lime salt rim (Tajín or homemade) makes it.
Two slices is gentle heat. For real fire, leave the seeds in or add a third slice.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Pineapple, lime, agave, and muddled jalapeño.
Garnish: Chili-lime salt rim, pineapple wedge, jalapeño slice
Garnish: Chili-lime salt rim, pineapple wedge, jalapeño slice
How the swap works: The jalapeño's heat mimics alcohol's warmth; tea adds dryness, and extra pineapple means less added sweetener.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Mexico’s tequila and cola, invented in Tequila, Jalisco, and traditionally stirred with the same knife used to cut the lime. It’s simple, but the salt rim and fresh lime make it much more than a rum-and-coke swap.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Tequila, lime, and cola with a salt rim.
Garnish: Salt rim, lime wedge
Garnish: Salt rim, lime wedge
How the swap works: More lime and a couple of dashes of alcohol-free bitters cut cola's sweetness the way tequila does. Use caffeine-free cola for evenings.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
A party drink from Jalisco, served in a clay cup: tequila with orange, grapefruit, and lime juice, topped with grapefruit soda and a salt rim. Think of it as a paloma’s more generous cousin.
It’s perfect for batching. Tap Pitcher · 8, and add the soda per glass.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Tequila with orange, grapefruit, lime, and grapefruit soda.
Garnish: Salt rim, citrus wedges
Garnish: Salt rim, citrus wedges
How the swap works: It's already a juicy, salty party drink; a little more fresh juice fills the tequila's space.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
A modern classic: reposado tequila with a splash of smoky mezcal, stirred with agave syrup and bitters. It’s rich, a little smoky, and a revelation for whiskey drinkers.
Stir, don’t shake. It should be silky and clear. A flamed orange peel over the top adds a caramelized citrus note.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Reposado tequila and mezcal, stirred with agave and bitters.
Garnish: Flamed orange peel
Garnish: Flamed orange peel
How the swap works: Smoky lapsang souchong tea stands in for mezcal and gives the drink a tannic backbone; stir it over ice like the original.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Blanco (unaged) is bright and peppery, best in citrus drinks. Reposado (rested in oak) is rounder, with vanilla, and best in stirred drinks. Mezcal is smoky and powerful, so use it by the half ounce to start.
More bottles to explore: vodka cocktails, gin cocktails, and the old fashioned in all its variations.
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A 100% agave blanco for bright, citrusy drinks like margaritas and ranch water; a reposado for stirred drinks like the Oaxaca old fashioned. Avoid 'mixto' tequilas that don't say 100% agave.
Both are agave spirits. Tequila is made mainly from blue Weber agave with steamed hearts, while mezcal's agave is typically roasted in earth pits, giving it a smoky flavor. A little mezcal adds depth to many tequila drinks.
Our go-to is 2 : 1 : ¾, meaning 2 oz tequila, 1 oz fresh lime, and ¾ oz orange liqueur. If you like it sweeter, add ¼ oz agave syrup.
A West Texas highball of tequila, lime, and very bubbly mineral water. It's refreshing, low in sugar, and needs no shaker.
Tap Pitcher · 8 on the margarita card for exact quantities. Mix the tequila, lime, and orange liqueur ahead, keep it cold, and shake each drink with ice (or add the listed water and pour over ice).
The batch cocktail guide →
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