Mexican Cocktails

One of our favorite sunny destinations is Mexico, and for wine Wednesday we’ll feature Mexican cocktails! It’s not just the tasty mix of salty, sweet, and sour that you find in a margarita or sangrita that we love, it’s how the flavors pair so perfectly with Mexican food, and seem to beg one to book a flight straight to Mexico for one of our Mexican culinary tours.

Margarita Recipe

Not nearly as popular in Mexico as in the U.S., this cocktail is simply too good not to include.

Ingredients for 4 cocktails:

• 3/4 c. tequila (preferably silver)
• 1/3 c. Triple Sec
• 1/3 c. simple syrup
• 1/2 c. lime juice
• crushed ice
• salt and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake the ingredients (except garnish) thoroughly.
2. Serve in a salt-rimmed glass with a lime wedge.

Try it with these wonderful fish tacos.

Paloma

It means “dove,” and it’s probably the most popular tequila cocktail in Mexico. It’s a mix of tequila and a grapefruit-based soda, served on the rocks with a wedge of lime.

Pair it with these savory dobladillas with mole.

Sangrita

This spicy, fruity tomato drink is used a a chaser to fine sipping tequila, and it’s one of my personal favorites. Simply mix equal parts orange juice, tomato juice, and freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice. Add a pinch of salt and a couple dashes of tabasco (or other hot sauce).

Try it with this hearty sopa de frijol negro.

Michelada

People usually either love or hate this beer cocktail, which is a bit of a “beer bloody Mary.” There are many recipe variations for it, but this is our favorite!

• 1 Mexican beer
• Juice from 1 lime
• 1/3 c. tomato juice 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 4 dashes hot sauce
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• black pepper, to taste
• salt mixed with chili powder for rimming class

Simply mix the ingredients and serve over ice in a glass with a salted rim.

Drink it along side a wonderful ceviche de mariscos.

Horchata

Of course, if you prefer a non-alcoholic drink, Mexico has got you covered as well, with what my boys call “Mexican milk”: horchata. This sweet creamy drink is actually made from rice milk. We’ll be featuring a recipe for it later today on our Facebook page, be sure to check it out!

Drink it with a classic Pozole rojo.

What’s your favorite Mexican drink? What’s your favorite food to drink it with? Check out all of our Mexican culinary tours.

Try more of our cocktail recipes including:

• The perfect pisco sour
• Cognac cocktails
• Venetian Spritz and Bellini from Italy
• Gin & Tonic Sorbet

By Peg Kern

Read our favorite New Year’s Eve cocktails.

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