Cinco de Mayo Cocktails
WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT
Cinco de Mayo is one of the biggest celebrations of Mexican culture marked by festivals and parades and celebrated annually on, you guessed it, the fifth of May.
While it’s celebrated in Mexico, festivities are much bigger, widespread and more popular in the U.S., none more so than in Los Angeles, California.
Planning to host your own Cinco de Mayo celebrations? Not sure what drinks to serve? We’ve got you covered!
Although there’s no official Cinco de Mayo drink, if it were up to us, we’d nominate the Margarita or the Paloma. But to help you with your drink selections, we’ve curated a list of 9 easy-to-make Cinco de Mayo cocktails.
Pair any of these drinks with some tacos or chips and guacamole, and you’re well on your way for one serious fiesta. Salud!
Margarita
There’s no better way to kick off a Cinco de Mayo cocktail list than with the Margarita.
There’s no one on the planet who doesn’t love a Margarita. Or if there is, we’ve never met them. Super easy to make and absolutely delicious to drink, a classic Margarita mixes Tequila Blanco, Lime Juice and Triple Sec and is served in a signature salt-rimmed Margarita Glass. It really is THE taste of Mexico.
One sip and it’s easy to understand why the Margarita is not only the most popular Tequila-based cocktail but one of the world’s most popular cocktails in the world, period. Check out our Margarita cocktail recipe.
Tommy’s Margarita
Let’s keep those Margaritas coming! Tommy’s Margarita is a “modern” variation where Triple Sec is substituted for Agave Syrup.
Another notable difference between Tommy’s Margarita and the classic Margarita is that Tommy’s is served in a Rocks Glass instead of a Margarita Glass, and without a Salt Rim.
The Agave Syrup works perfectly with the Agave notes already present in the Tequila, and then when mixed with Fresh Lime, it’s, well, sublime!
Here’s how to make Tommy’s Margarita.
Spicy Mangotini
Let’s turn up the spice, shall we? A Martini that’s spicy with the flavor of Mango? Yes, please! The Spicy Mangotini mixes Absolut Mango (Mango-Flavored Vodka), a dash or two of Absolut Peppar Vodka, delicious Mango Purée, and Fresh Lemon Juice, sweetened with some Simple Syrup and garnished with a Jalapeno.
A cocktail that’s guaranteed to turn up the heat at any fiesta, let us show you how to make a Spicy Mangotini.
Paloma
The Paloma isn’t just another Tequila drink, “It’s the number one Tequila-based cocktail coming out of Mexico,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
Tequila and Pink Grapefruit work so well together and that’s exactly what this drink is all about. With the Paloma, “You get those delicious Agave notes coming through from the Tequila, the effervescence of the Grapefruit Juice, balanced off with a salty rim,” explains Rico. Best yet, it’s super easy to make and indescribably delicious.
The Swedish Paloma
Looking for a Cinco de Mayo cocktail without Tequila? We’ve got you. We love the taste of Grapefruit so much that we decided to make our own version of the Paloma but with Absolut Grapefruit Vodka instead of Tequila.
The Swedish Paloma mixes Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit and Soda Water instead of the traditional Grapefruit Soda. We can’t overstate what a difference homemade, freshly squeezed juice does to your drink!
If you love Grapefruit Juice, there’s a big chance that the Swedish Paloma is going to be your new favorite drink. Discover how to make The Swedish Paloma.
Spicy Fifty
Let’s keep it spicy! This delicious cocktail is a surprising mix of Absolut Vanilia (Vanilla-Flavored Vodka), Fresh Lime Juice, Honey, Elderflower Cordial
and is then garnished with a Jalapeno to really spice things up.
The flavor combination of Vanilla, Elderflower and Lime Juice might read odd but, trust us, this modern classic is incredible.
Serve in a chilled Martini Glass, and you’ll quickly notice there’s undeniable elegance to this drink. What can we say? The Spicy Fifty is full of surprises. Learn how to make a Spicy Fifty cocktail.
Absolut Lime Vodkarita
If there was just one ingredient that typifies Cinco de Mayo, it’s Lime. With this in mind, the Absolut Lime Vodkarita takes the taste of Lime and turns it up to nine.
This cocktail mixes the zesty character of Absolut Lime-Flavored Vodka, Fresh Lime Juice, and Agave Nectar, served in a Salt-Rimmed Rocks Glass and garnished…wait for it…with a Lime Wedge, of course.
Fresh, zesty and delicious, here’s how to make an Absolut Lime Vodkarita.
Tequila Sunrise
Just look at those rays of sunshine! If the layers of color don’t catch your eye, the taste most certainly will.
The Tequila Sunrises mixes Tequila Blanco, Fresh Pressed Orange Juice, a dash of Grenadine, and is garnished with both an Orange Wedge and a Fresh Cherry.
No shaking, no fancy bartending tools, it’s a simple to make cocktail that’s built in the glass. So, grab your Highball Glass and let’s make the Tequila Sunrise! Check out our Tequila Sunrise recipe.
Frozen Margarita
As we said earlier, everyone loves a Margarita! And even though we’ve already featured two Margaritas on this Cinco de Mayo cocktail list, there’s always room for one more.
Just when you thought the classic Margarita couldn’t get better, along comes the Frozen Margarita. It mixes the same three ingredients – Tequila Blanco, Triple Sec, and Lime Juice – but it’s made in a Blender with lots and lots of Ice.
“The flavors of 100% Agave, Lime, and that Triple Sec, giving a nice Orange flow, are all chilled and frozen to perfection,” shares Rico. Perfection, indeed.
Cocktail recipes by ingredient
Top ten drinks for any occasion
Lemon Drop Shot
Absolut Citron, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Lemon, Sugar, Superfine, Ice Cubes
Cosmopolitan
Absolut Citron, Triple Sec, Lime Juice, Cranberry Juice (sweetened), Orange Zest, Ice Cubes
Bloody Mary
Absolut Vodka, Tomato Juice, Lemon Juice, Hot Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, Ground Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, Lemon, Celery
Appletini
Absolut Vodka, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Apple Liqueur, Apple Juice, Ice Cubes
Long Island Iced Tea
Absolut Vodka, Light Rum, Gin, Tequila Blanco, Lemon Juice, Triple Sec, Cola, Lemon, Ice Cubes
Amaretto Sour
Amaretto, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg White, Maraschino, Orange, Ice Cubes
