While the official reason we celebrate Cinco De Mayo is to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, this holiday has over the decades also become a celebration of sunny weather and bright, colorful cocktails.
In recognition of Cinco De Mayo, bars and restaurants are offering some really fun cocktails. These libations are sure to create a festive occasion for all celebrating.
Venticinco Margarita
Venticinco Margarita at Press Lounge at Four Seasons Las Vegas.
This margarita at Press Lounge at Four Seasons Las Vegas is inspired by the desert surrounding Las Vegas, and is made with housemade prickly pear syrup, Patron Silver Tequila, Fever Tree club soda, fresh lime juice, tajin, and to add just a touch of the Vegas spirit, a bit of silver shimmer.
Margarita Zaragoza
Margarita Zaragoza at AVA Resort Cancun.
At the soon-to-open AVA Resort Cancun, the Margarita Zaragoza is made with Tequila Cristalino Añejo, Chartreuse Yellow Liqueur, lime juice, agave and, for garnish: a cube of cured goat cheese and raisin. Mixologist Fatima Leon says: “In the battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862, Ignacio Zaragoza faced six-thousand French troops with two-thousand men of his own, making it one of the toughest battles in history. May 5th became a symbol of resistance and tenacity as a result of the victorious Mexican troops who fought valiantly with little preparation. The Zaragoza Margarita fuses the marked texture of the French liqueur with the complexity of Añejo Tequila. The agave and lime juice balance the flavors of the two spirits and maintains the harmonious structure of a classic margarita. The Zaragoza Margarita is topped off with a garnish famously derived from the classic Puebla raisin liqueur.”
Green Bell Margarita
Green Bell Margarita at Avenida NYC at PENN 1 in New York City.
At Avenida NYC at PENN 1 in New York City, this cocktail is made with tequila, pineapple, green bell pepper, and cilantro. The cocktail is then garnished with a dried pineapple. “This exquisite, refreshing blend of tequila, green bell pepper, and cilantro combined with the sweetness of pineapple juice, perfectly complements our Mexican-inspired menu. For an elevated experience, enjoy it on our rooftop- the ultimate destination for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with friends in true style,” said Brian Fleming, Avenida NYC Manager.
Smoke & Mirrors
Smoke & Mirrors at Revivalist in Huntsville, Alabama.
At Revivalist in Huntsville, Alabama, a spin on a classic margarita. It’s made with Montelobos mezcal, lime and a housemade blackberry pear shrub.This spin on a classic margarita is a refreshing blend of smokey and citrus. This cocktail serves as a gateway to mezcal using flavors that otherwise wouldn’t typically go together to create a remarkable drink. Side rimmed with Tajin and bourbon brown sugar, what’s not to love?” said bartender Malia Knight.
Timeless Old Fashioned
Timeless Old Fashioned at Giselle Miami.
At Giselle Miami, Demerara paired with smokey Mezcal and Patron Reposado Tequila for notes of vanilla and oak, with chocolate bitters. “This drink is a twist on an old fashioned made with Patron reposado, Montelobos Mezcal for light smokey flavor, softened with brown sugar, and chocolate bitters. The chocolate filled vanilla cone is meant to be enjoyed first to bring out the chocolate notes in the cocktail and the tequila,” said Tony Boukhari, Beverage Director, The Restaurant People.
The Watermelon Drink
The Watermelon Drink st Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach.
At Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach, a blend of fresh watermelon with the smoky depth of Montelobos Mezcal, the crisp notes of El Tequileño Blanco, and Select Aperitivo. The pressed watermelon juice and squeeze of lemon juice are sweet and tangy but get a kick from the spicy agave nectar. The cocktail is finished off with white balsamic. “This is a very tasty drink! Basically, it’s a Watermelon Margarita and should be explained as such. It has some herbal notes from the cilantro, which can be omitted as not everyone loves that herb, but the drink is far superior with it in there. It’s absolutely delicious and perfectly balanced!” said Naren Young, Creative Beverage Director at Sweet Liberty.
Librado Luxe
Librado Luxe at Ascent Lounge in New York City.
At Ascent Lounge in New York City, this cocktail is made with 400 Conejos Mezcal infused with red bell pepper, fresh-made avocado puree, lime juice, and agave syrup fashioned with a dehydrated lime. "Our goal was to create a cocktail that tells a story. The Librado Luxe is not just about the flavors, but also about the experience. We infuse 400 Conejos Mezcal with red bell pepper for depth, and balance it with the creamy texture of fresh avocado purée. The final touch is a garnish of smoke that adds a rustic layer of aroma,” said Matija Rajak, Ascent mixologist.
Fiery Mango Margarita
Fiery Mango Margarita at Kings Dining & Entertainment in Boston.
At Kings Dining & Entertainment in Boston, this cocktail is made with spicy tequila, Triple Sec, fresh lemon lime, mango puree, serrano pepper, and a Tajin rim. "This margarita is a combination of sweet and spicy. Our Mango Puree compliments the Tajin spice perfectly and will have you coming back for more,” said Nelson Duran, National Beverage Director.
Margarita Milkshake
Margarita Milkshake at Creamline in New York City.
At Creamline in New York City, a Ronnybrook Farms milkshake made with salt and lime, topped with Margarita jelly beans from Economy Candy, with an option to make it boozy.
Mango Day Dream
Mango Day Dream at Books and Records in San Diego.
This is a cocktail loaded with passion (in the form of passion fruit!) and a healthy dose of nostalgia. “The origin of this cocktail stimulated from the love San Diego had for passion fruit over summer. Many craft cocktail bars began including passion fruit in some shape or form on their beverage menu. I wanted to add my own take on a passion fruit cocktail. The idea behind the cocktail is creating a Mexican candy cocktail, it’s got sweet, sour and grapefruit pop to it from East Imperial Grapefruit Soda. It’s rimmed with the candy chili powder (Tamarindo) that used to be on Lucas candies which, for some, takes them back to childhood, as it does for me. I think cocktails can tell a story and sometimes cocktails allow you to remember your story,” said Parker Contreras, lead bartender, Books and Records in San Diego.
Ginger Margarita
Ginger Margarita at The Select Atlanta.
At The Select Atlanta in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a spicy twist on the classic margarita crafted with tequila, triple sec, fresh ginger, and lime. "Our Ginger Margarita at The Select is the ideal way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a kick from the fresh ginger! says general manager, Jennifer Bresnahan.
NA Paloma
NA Paloma at High Rise Beverage Company in Charleston.
At High Rise Beverage Company in Charleston, the NA Paloma is crafted with grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave and finished with High Rise Delta-9 Grapefruit Seltzer. "Who says you need tequila to celebrate Cinco de Mayo?!" says High Rise founder Matt Skinner.
No Tea, No Shade
No Tea, No Shade at The Wooly in New York City.
Via Nikolas Oscar Sparks, bartender at The Wooly in New York City, this cocktail is made with Tequila Ocho Reposado, Mezcal Vago Espadin, Rooibos tangerine tea syrup, lime juice, Cointreau, and soda water. “Agave distillates of all kinds present such challenging and exciting opportunities for bartenders insofar as the diversity of varietals, terroir, geography, and expressions demand you understand the uniqueness of the bottle in front of you, as opposed to simply relying on broad categorical traits. Put another way, you can’t get lazy with agave. This drink is a bold, yet refreshing daisy variation; No Tea, No Shade showcases Tequila Ocho Reposado’s earthy, mineral qualities while also pulling out subtle hints of vanilla, citrus, and oak.”
Oaxacan Old Fashioned
Oaxacan Old Fashioned at Alma Fonda Fina in Denver.
At Alma Fonda Fina in Denver, this cocktail is made with Milagro Reposado, Union Joven Mezcal, Hoja Santa, and agave nectar. “While you might expect to see tequila and mezcal in a margarita, the Hoja Santa is what makes this one unique. Hoja Santa has a distinct, herbaceous, licorice-like flavor profile that adds the right amount of balance to this cocktail,” said chef Johnny Curiel.
IYKYK
IYKYK at Hash Kitchen in Scottsdale.
At Hash Kitchen in Scottsdale, this cocktail is shaken up with tequila and a house made citrus syrup with a Tajin rim and a spicy Serrano chili for garnish. “If you know Hash Kitchen, you know it is the best place to get festive brunch cocktails! Spice up your Cinco de Mayo with this delicious cocktail, featuring a blend of tequila, serrano chili, lime and our secret Hash twist, Mello Yello syrup,” said Sara Ritterling, Brand Marketing Manager at Hash Kitchen.
El Cadillac
El Cadillac at The Mexicano in Phoenix.
At The Mexicano in Phoenix, this deconstructed Cadillac margarita comes with Patron silver, lime, agave, Cointreau, Grand Marnier sidecar, a flaming cinnamon-dusted orange and cinnamon stick for aromatics and gold flakes to garnish. “The El Cadillac really is your own style of a Cadillac margarita. Served on a gold tray, you can build it or take it as a shot, however you want to enjoy it!” said Abby Larson, Corporate Mixologist at The Maggiore Group.
Rumorosa Michelada
Rumorosa Michelada at Rumorosa in San Diego.
At Rumorosa in San Diego, this spin on the Mexican Michelada combines San Diego-brewed Mujeres Fiesta en el Barrio lager, house made chamoy, signature black sauce, tajin, and pressed lime. Lorraine Morales, General Manager of Rumorosa, says: “Here at Rumorosa, we’ve created a Michelada in our own signature way. We handpicked a local San Diego craft beer, called Mujeres brew. This light Vienna-style lager pairs perfectly with our house made black sauce. The black sauce is a Mexican-style umami consisting of house made chamoy, English sauce, and spices that complement the Cali-Baja dishes on our menu. To top it off, we present this cocktail with a tamarind tajin rim that creates the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.”
Trade Merchant
Trade Merchant at The Fed at The Langham in Boston.
At The Fed at The Langham in Boston, habanero infused tequila, Mixta, spiced agave and lime with an ancho chile-salt half-rim garnish.“This is a spicy marg on steroids. Dried habanero has spice that lingers, with a sweet aftertaste. Nixta Licor de Elote is an ancestral corn liqueur from Jilotepec – the birthplace of corn. We spice the agave with szechuan peppercorn, black cardamom, star anise and cloves giving layers and layers to the final drink. The rim is made of ancho chile, paprika, salt and citric acid, shocking the flavor buds in the best way possible,” said Aliz Meszesi, Bar Manager at The Fed.
Masa & Agave
Masa & Agave at Masa & Agave in Minneapolis.
At Masa & Agave in Minneapolis, masa-infused mezcal, Plata tequila, corn milk, ancho chile, lime, and agave. "This version of a margarita celebrates the two main pillars of Mexican dining and drinking heritage — corn masa and agave spirits. After infusing the mezcal with masa, we craft a unique ‘corn milk’ by blending sweet corn with oat milk and clarifying it. The result is a surprisingly well balanced drink that brings together the sweetness from corn and agave with a spicy kick of ancho chile and earthy undertones of Tequila and Mezcal,” said Tony Edgerton, Beverage Director for Masa & Agave.
Strawberry Fields Forever
Strawberry Fields Forever at Centro Mexican Kitchen in Boulder, Colorado.
At Centro Mexican Kitchen in Boulder, Colorado, Suerte Añejo tequila teams up with strawberry puree and fresh-squeezed lime juice with a rose-hibiscus crystal rim and a garnish of fragrant fresh mint. "It always feels like spring is in peak performance here in Colorado during Cinco de Mayo. Not only does this drink taste like strawberry, it even looks like a little strawberry once you add the mint garnish. And of course it features tequila – Cinco de Mayo wouldn't be complete without it,” said Zachary Fishburn, Front of House Manager at Centro.
