5 Classic Tequila Cocktails You Should Know How To Make

A post collaboration with Smarblend and Spin and Shake

Tequila is a versatile Mexican spirit which is now enjoyed all over the world.

It can be traced back to thousands of years ago when people would take the sap from the agave plant and would occasionally place it in the sun to create some spontaneous fermentation. 

From that to being one of the largest spirit productions in the world, Tequila certainly is a popular drink. There are many cocktails out there to be enjoyed with tequila, but here are just 5 which are some of the most popular and essential Tequila cocktails out there.

Whether you love them or hate them, these Tequila cocktails in one way or another have helped shape tequila cocktail culture today.

First things first - check out the complete guide to Tequila to better understand the spirit that goes into all these cocktails.

---

1. The Margarita

Recipe

• 50ml Tequila

• 20ml Cointreau

• 30ml Lime juice

Method

• Shake everything with ice and strain into a chilled coupe with an optional salt rim.

---

2. The Batanga

image source

Recipe

• 50ml Tequila Blanco

• 100ml Coca cola

• 15ml Lime juice

Method

• pour all ingredients into a Collins glass over ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.

The Batanga is like the classic Cuba Libre, but with tequila instead of rum. The drink was created by the great Don Javier in the mid-1960s. The drink is very simple and contains tequila, coca cola and lime juice, served over ice with an optional salt rim.

---

3. El Diablo

Image source

Recipe

• 50ml Reposado Tequila

• 15ml​ creme de cassis

• 15ml ounce​ lime juice

• 150ml ginger beer

Method

• Shake the tequila, creme de cassis and lime juice in a cocktail shaker then strain over an ice filled glass and top with ginger beer.

The first known reference to "The Devil" cocktail is in Victor Bergerons 1946 Trader Vics book of food and drinks, although not the most popular tequila cocktail, this tequila tipple still makes the list of most popular tequila cocktails.

---

4. Bloody Maria

Image source.

Recipe

• 50ml 100% agave Tequila

• 150ml Tomato juice

• 12ml Fresh lemon juice

• 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce

• 2 dashes Tabasco sauce

• 1 pinch Celery salt

• 1 pinch Ground black pepper

Method

• Mix all ingredients in a shaker and shake briefly, Pour into a long glass and garnish in the most over the top way you can.

A twist on the classic brunch cocktail that’s made a name for itself in it’s own right.

The bloody Maria is quite simply, a bloody Mary with tequila instead of Vodka. For the brunch lovers and savoury drink enthusiast this cocktail is an ultimate tipple.

---

5. The Paloma

Image source

Recipe

• 50ml 100% Tequila blanco

• 10ml agave syrup

• 10ml lime juice

• 60ml pink grapefruit juice

• soda water

Method

• Shake everything in a cocktail shaker apart from the soda water and pour into a tall glass over ice. Top with the soda water, give a light stir and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Finally, the Paloma! This too was created by Dan Javier as a second version of the Batanga. About 10 years after the Batanga, the Paloma appeared. The drink is identical apart from instead of coca cola, it is instead topped with a more local and sweeter grapefruit soda.

---

Smartblend is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk and amazon.com. Smartblend does earn a small commission on goods purchased through the included links. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, but we do appreciate your referral!

Related Articles