21 cocktails to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Can you guess what’s in this one? If you said a Bloody Mary with tequila instead of vodka, then you have guessed correctly. According to this recipe from Isabel eats, you’ll need tequila, tomato juice, lemon, lime, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, celery salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper—plus olives, peppers, celery, pickles, and any other garnishes.

A Cantarito is similar to a Paloma (which we’ll get to later), but with more variety of citrus. For instance, this Cantarito recipe from Cooking with Janica calls for mixing tequila with orange juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit soda. Cantaritos are also known for their spiced rims!

A Carajillo is essentially spiked coffee, and it’s a common cocktail in Spain and much of Latin America, including Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico. This version from The Other Side of the Tortilla calls for just espresso, Licor 43 (a Spanish liqueur), and ice—although it can also be served hot.

A Charro Negro is Mexico’s answer to the Cuba Libre, which is basically just a rum & coke. Of course, as Bacon is Magic will explain, the rum is replaced with tequila in the Charro Negro, and you’ll also need salt, lime, and Coca-Cola—bonus points if it’s Mexican Coke! Spanish for “Black Cowboy,” the Charro Negro is most associated with the Day of the Dead, but it’s quite refreshing on Cinco de Mayo, too!

There are some complicated beer cocktails out there, but one of the simplest ones is the Chelada. As 40 Aprons can tell you, it’s just Mexican beer, lime juice, lime, salt, and ice.

You only need three ingredients to make a classic margarita: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. (For the liqueur, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, and Triple Sec all work.) To get the correct amounts—for both a single serving and a pitcher—check out this recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

Your blender can transform into a daiquiri machine with this simple recipe from Striped Spatula. All you need are frozen watermelon cubes, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup, and some rum!

If you want a margarita, but are craving something other than the classic kind, try these jalapeno strawberry margaritas courtesy of Recipes From a Pantry. They still contain tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, with the addition of strawberries, jalapeno slices, and simple syrup.

One of the most classic cocktails of all time, a Tom Collins is made of gin, lemon juice, sugar, club soda, and ice. Sub tequila for the gin, and you’ve got yourself Tom’s south-of-the-border cousin, Juan Collins. Tequila Exitco has a good recipe, which can be made with any tequila brand.

Coffee and tequila? That’s certainly one way to kick off Cinco de Mayo! This recipe from Cooking with Curls also calls for coffee liqueur and whipped cream.

Olive is an odd cocktail ingredient, but it works in dirty martinis, so try something new this Cinco de Mayo and make this Mexican martini from The Defined Dish. In addition to olive brine and tequila, it also includes Cointreau, orange juice, lime juice, salt, and olives.

Here’s a simple Cinco de Mayo cocktail that requires just four ingredients. And if you’re a fan of Moscow mules, you’ll probably enjoy this one. As Difford’s Guide describes, you only need tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and ginger beer.

A Negroni is typically made of gin, vermouth, and Campari, and it’s Italian. To give it a Mexican twist, use mezcal instead of gin, but keep the rest of the recipe the same, as explained by The Endless Meal.

If you’re normally a whisky sour person, switch things up with this mezcal sour from Bon Appetit. It features mezcal, Amaro liqueur, agave nectar, bitters, and an egg white.

Looking for a way to spice up your next beer cocktail? Try a michelada, which literally does just that. This recipe from Chili Pepper Madness calls for a Mexican lager, Clamato (or tomato) juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and 2 tsp of hot sauce. As if that’s not enough spice, the rim also gets coated with chili powder and salt.

A mudslide might not seem like an obviously Mexican-themed drink but think about the ingredients. Sure, this dessert cocktail contains vodka and Irish cream, but it also features an equal amount of Kahlua, which is a coffee liqueur produced in Veracruz, Mexico! Will Cook For Smiles will tell you the rest of the ingredients.

Invented and popularized by bartender Phil Ward of Manhattan’s Death & Co, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned is made of tequila, mezcal, agave nectar, bitters, and an orange peel garnish. Liquor.com has the low down.

Have you ever tried a Paloma? Spanish for “dove,” a Paloma usually consists of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit-flavored soda (or grapefruit juice and club soda). This recipe from Love & Lemons actually uses grapefruit juice and sparkling water, as well as some simple syrup. A salted rim is optional.

Ranch water is known as the unofficial cocktail of West Texas, so it’s not technically Mexican—but it includes two Mexican ingredients, so it can absolutely be part of your Cinco de Mayo celebration. A Couple Cooks can give you the details, but the process is basically just tequila, lime juice, and ice topped with Topo-Chico, which is a brand of Mexican sparkling water.

Sangria is Spanish, but of course, folks have thought up creative ways to put a Mexican spin on the classic wine-based cocktail. This “Sangria con Tequila” from Food.com is, as the name suggests, essentially sangria with some added tequila. Specifically, you’ll need tequila, red wine, orange juice, lime juice, triple sec, sparkling water, and sugar.

Tequila sunrise is named for its appearance, with a color gradient similar to what you’d find in the early morning sky. Of course, with it containing orange juice and grenadine, it’s also perfect for a boozy brunch. Baking Beauty can help you get your day started.