Did you know that Americans spend nearly five times as much on tequila for Cinco de Mayo compared to the average day? The tequilas of choice: Silver and Blanco (representing 55% of purchases), followed by Reposado (15%) and Anejo (6%). The remaining 24% is made up of other styles of tequila such as Gold, ready-to-drink, and flavored.
Want to celebrate your Cinco de Mayo in style? Here are some crafty cocktails for you to enjoy:
Cleanse-A-Rita
Created by Trisha Antonsen of Drizly
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Tequila
- 2 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Water
- 1 tsp Agave Syrup
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt
- Lemon
Preparation:
- In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, lemon, water, agave syrup, and a small pinch of cayenne pepper with ice
- Shake vigorously until cold
- Pour into a rocks glass
- Garnish with a lemon wedge dusted with salt and cayenne pepper
Afternoon in Jalisco
Created by New York City Mixologist Christopher Reyes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
1/4 oz Absinthe
1 oz Ginger Beer
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
3/4 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Candied Ginger and Lemon Wheel for Garnish
Preparation:
- Combine Tequila Don Julio 70, fresh lime juice, fresh pineapple juice, simple syrup and absinth in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
- Strain contents over ice into a highball glass.
- Top with house ginger beer and garnish with candied ginger and lemon wheel.
Ideal Serving:
Highball Glass
Clarified Avocado Margarita
Created by San Francisco Mixologist Leon Vazquez
Ingredients:
16 oz Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
6 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
4 oz Simple Syrup
30 dashes Orange Bitters
1 Avocado
2 Serrano Peppers
1 Bushel of Cilantro (Approximately 40 leaves)
6 tablespoons Salt
40 oz Whole Milk
Lime Twist for Garnish
Preparation:
- Combine 4 ounces lime juice, simple syrup, orange bitters, avocado, peppers and cilantro into an airtight container. Coarsely grind the peppers, avocado and cilantro.
- Add 14 ounces boiling water and immediately cover so that no liquid evaporates. Let mixture sit overnight, then strain the mixture into a clean container and add Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro.
- Bring whole milk to a boil. Add the boiling milk and the remaining 2 ounces of lime juice to the strained mixture, the milk will curdle.
- Strain the liquid slowly with cheesecloth. Pour liquid into a clean container, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Serve neat with a lime twist.
Ideal Serve: Cocktail Glass
