Sensational Cinco de Mayo Drink Recipes

Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 each year. In general, it’s a celebration of all things Mexican. But what you may not realize is that it’s actually a commemoration of Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican-American culture. Festivities began in California, where they have been observed since 1863. The holiday gained wider momentum in the 1980s, though. That’s when beer and liquor advertisers started using the holiday to push Mexican beers and spirits.

Here are some surprising statistics about alcohol sales during Cinco de Mayo. Tequila sales account for $2.9 billion U.S. sales annually. And tequila-related beverages average about 14.5 percent of all cocktails consumed. (Think: margaritas!) On and around Cinco de Mayo, though, that average is tripled! Records show that 126 million liters of tequila are consumed on Cinco de Mayo alone.

The beer industry has a foothold on Cinco de Mayo, too. In fact, consumers drink more beer on Cinco de Mayo than any other holiday, including the 4th of July, St. Patrick’s Day, and Superbowl Weekend. In total, $745 million U.S. dollars are spent on light beers and malt liquors during Cinco de Mayo each year. Corona completely blows up the Mexican beer market, obliterating its competition. (Dos Equis is next in line.)

If those statistics haven’t blown your analytical brain, then let these recipes really rock your world! We have picked out some of the very best cocktail recipes for you to try this Cinco de Mayo. Yes, many of them have tequila, but not all of them do! We’ve scrounged up a few recipes that have added some heat to the mix, too. Maybe a dash of jalapeño is just what you need this May!

Best Cinco de Mayo Spicy Drinks

Mexico is a paradise for spicy food. It’s no wonder—the hot, dry Mexican climate is perfect for the chili pepper. What better way to pay it homage than to liven up your drink with a little heat! We’ve picked out some great choices here.

Spicy Pink Paloma

You will need:

• 2 ounces tequila
• 1 ounce grapefruit juice (fresh is best!)
• Grapefruit soda, like Fresca
• Fresh sliced jalapeno
• Garnish: fresh grapefruit slice
• Rim: 1 tsp. Himalayan salt with a pinch of cayenne

First, prepare your glass. Swipe the grapefruit slice on the rim of the glass to get it wet. Dip the edge of the glass into the salt/cayenne mixture. Now, prepare the cocktail! Add ice to the glass and pour in the tequila and fresh grapefruit juice. Toss in desired jalapeño slices. Go easy if you aren’t sure what heat level your guests want…or can handle! Top with the grapefruit soda. Stir with a long spoon and garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita

This recipe combines tangy, sweet, and hot in one amazing beverage! You will need:

• 3-4 jalapeño pepper slices
• 1 ½ ounces tequila (blanco or reposado)
• 2 ounces (¼  cup) pineapple juice
• ¾ ounces (1 ½ tablespoons) Cointreau
• ¾ ounces (1 ½  tablespoons) lime juice (fresh is best)
• Rim: kosher salt or flaky sea salt
• Garnish: pineapple wedge, jalapeño slice

Cut a notch in the lime wedge and run it along the rim of your cocktail glass to get it wet. Dip the rim into a plate of salt. Next, heat things up! Three to four thin slices of jalapeño will make for a medium-spicy drink. Add more or less if necessary. (For more subtle heat, remove the seeds.) Next, mix up the drink: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the jalapeño, tequila, pineapple juice, Cointreau, and lime juice. Shake hard! Strain the margarita into the salted glass. Garnish with pineapple and jalapeño.

Tamarind Margarita

This is sweet and sour, with a little added heat from the chili pepper on the rim. This is an extraordinary drink and a nice change of pace! You will need:

• 1 ½ ounces tequila (blanco is recommended)
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• 1 ounce tamarind nectar (search for this in your international food aisle)
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Garnish: lime wheel
• Rim: Tajin seasoning (or a red pepper/salt mix)

First, fix up the rim of your glass. Wet the rim using a lime slice, then roll the rim in Tajin seasoning. Next, pull out your blender. Fill it with 1 cup of ice (not too much!), tequila, orange liqueur, tamarind nectar, and simple syrup. Blend until it’s smooth. Pour into the prepared glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

The Night Market Mule

This is a variation on a Moscow Mule, except that it uses Korean chili flakes and Korean Soju. It’s definitely not Mexican. But it is a fun twist on the typical tequila-based Cinco de Mayo cocktail! If you love fire, you’ll love this. You will need:

• 2 ounces soju
• ½ ounce yuzu juice
• ½ ounce ginger simple syrup
• 3 ounces ginger beer
• Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) or chili powder of choice
• Lime wedges, lime wheels
• Garnish: 2 pieces of candied ginger

To make the ginger simple syrup, combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. Add a handful of peeled and sliced fresh ginger. Heat at a low simmer until the sugar melts. Cool, then strain into a squeeze bottle and store in the fridge.

To make the drink, first prepare your glass by running a lime wedge around the rim of a copper mug. Place the gochugaru on a saucer and dip the rim of the glass into the chili flakes. Next, add the soju, yuzu juice, simple syrup, and ginger beer to the mug. Fill with ice and gently stir. Garnish with a lime wheel and the candied ginger skewered on a cocktail spear.

Best Cinco de Mayo Classic Drinks

How do you observe Cinco de Mayo? With parades and celebrations for all things Mexico, of course. This includes food, drink, and great Mexican music. You can incorporate the colors of Mexico: green, white, and red. You can tell your Google or Alexa device to “play top billboard songs from Mexico.” Luminaries and piñatas are also great ways to honor Cinco de Mayo.

And naturally, these classic Cinco de Mayo beauties should be on your menu! If you don’t already have a favorite recipe in hand, try one of these:

Margarita

You will need:

• 1 ½ ounces tequila (silver is preferred)
• 1 ounce orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or triple sec)
• ¾ ounce lime juice (freshly squeezed is best)
• Optional sweetener: agave nectar or simple syrupRim: coarse salt
• Garnish: lime wedge

First, salt a cocktail class. Use a lime wedge to wet the rim. Next, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and a few ice cubes. Shake it hard! Give it a taste and add optional sweetener if needed. Strain into a glass with ice. Garnish with the lime wedge.

Sangria

Everyone’s favorite! You can make this using red or white wine. This recipe makes an entire pitcher. You will need:

• ½ medium apple (cored, peeled, and chopped small)
• ½ medium orange (rind on, sliced into small pieces. Remove seeds.)
• 3-4 tablespoons organic brown sugar (or 3 T. organic cane sugar)
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ⅓ cup brandy
• 1 (750 ml) bottle of dry Spanish red wine (or white wine)

Add apples, oranges, and sugar to a large pitcher and muddle with a wooden spoon for 45 seconds. Next, add the orange juice and brandy, and muddle again for 30 seconds. Add the red or white wine and stir to meld. Taste and adjust the brandy, OJ, and sugar to taste. When ready to serve, use an ice-packed glass, and add an orange wheel to garnish.

Mezcal Negroni

You will need:

• 1 ounce mezcal
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• Garnish: orange wheel

In a cocktail shaker packed with ice, add the mezcal, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Shake it hard! Strain into a pretty highball glass with one large ice cube. Garnish with an orange wheel.

Best Cinco de Mayo Drinks You Can’t Miss

Want to celebrate by going a little “extra” this year? Here are some excellent, lesser-known cocktails to really stretch your mixing muscles. These are variations on classic drinks like a Bloody Mary or Old Fashioned, done a little bit differently.

Michelada

This is a spicy Mexican beer and tomato juice cocktail. It’s like a Bloody Mary, but using all Mexican ingredients. You will need:

• 12 ounces light Mexican beer
• 12 ounces Clamato juice (or use tomato juice)
• ⅓ cup lime juice (freshly squeezed is best!)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or Maggi sauce)
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• Rim: chili powder and coarse sea salt

First, prepare the rim by sprinkling some chili powder or Tajin seasoning and sea salt on a saucer. Use a lime wedge to get the rim of the glass wet, then dip the rim in the chili/salt mix. Set aside. Next, prepare your drink. In a shaker filled with ice, add the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, Clamato juice, and the hot sauce. Shake it hard! Strain into a tall glass packed with ice. Top with your Mexican beer. You can mix it up or leave it as is.

Oaxaca Old Fashioned

This riff on Old Fashioned replaces classic whiskey with tequila. Sound yummy? We think so too!  You will need:

• 1 ½ ounces tequila (reposado is best)
• ½ ounce mezcal
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Garnish: orange peel

Add the tequila, mezcal, agave nectar, and bitters to a highball glass with one large ice cube. Stir gently. Garnish with the orange peel.

Teremana Spritz

This is light and refreshing--very tropical! You will need:

• 1 ounce Teremana blanco tequila
• 1-ounce coconut water
• ¼ ounce Aperol
• ¼ ounce agave nectar
• ¼ ounce lemon juice
• 1 ½ ounce soda
• 1 ½ ounce Prosecco

In a cocktail shaker packed with ice, add your tequila, coconut water, Aperol, and agave nectar, and shake it hard! Strain into a glass packed with ice. Top with the soda and Prosecco. Garnish with an orange peel.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with one of these authentically Mexican cocktail recipes.
You don’t need to be Mexican to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. And it’s not cultural appropriation to enjoy some of the cultural elements that make Mexico special! Enjoying food and drink recipes that originate from Mexico and greater Latin America is a way to show that you love and embrace our neighbors. (Try a Mole Poblano.) So this year, lift your glass of sparkly deliciousness and say “Salud!” or “¡Arriba, Abajo, al Centro y pa’ dentro!”