Celebrate July 24 with drinks that employ tequila, your favorite Mexican spirit.
Wednesday, July 24, marks National Tequila Day. To commemorate the big day, we’ve collected a selection of tequila cocktails. There’s a twist, though. They’re not all margaritas.
Prickly Pear Margarita
1½ ounces silver tequila (preferably Chinaco Blanco)
1½ ounces fresh lime juice
½ ounce agave nectar
½ ounce Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
2 ounces prickly pear purée
Tajín Clásico chile seasoning, for rim garnish
Fill a large cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients except the chile seasoning and shake vigorously. Pour into glasses rimmed with the chile seasoning and filled with ice. Garnish with lime slices.
Urban Taco Frozen Margarita
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup tequila
½ cup cointreau
3 – 4 cups ice
Fresh lime slices, for garnish
In a saucepan over medium heat, add 1 cup water and sugar. Bring to a light boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
Pour mixture into a 5-cup pourable bowl or measuring cup. Stir in fresh lime juice, tequila, orange liquor, and 1 cup water. Pour mixture into ice cube trays or a freezer container. Freeze overnight.
Place frozen margarita cubes into a freezer bag and store until ready to use.
When ready, place frozen cubes into a high-power blender and blend until slushy-texture. Add ice and blend until smooth. Rim margarita cups with salt (optional) and serve with fresh lime slices.
Note: Add extra fresh lime juice, tequila, and/or orange liquor to thin or enhance flavors.
Corralejo Old Fashioned
2½ ounces Corralejo Añejo (or preferred añejo tequila)
¾ ounce agave syrup
2 dashes aromatic bitters
Add all ingredients into a rocks glass with ice. Stir to mix combine.
Corralejo Spicy Pineapple Paloma
Tajín (for rim)
2 ounces Corralejo Silver (or preferred blanco/silver tequila)
½ ounce grapefruit juice
½ ounce lime juice
1 serrano chile sliced in half lengthwise (1 for the mixture, 1 for garnish)
¾ ounce agave syrup
Pineapple soda (to top)
Rim glass with Tajín. Add all ingredients except the bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients. Strain into your glass over fresh ice. Top with pineapple soda.
Rivertop Frozen Margarita
1½ ounces tequila
½ ounce triple sec
1 ounce agave nectar
1 ounce lime juice
Place in blender. Blend. Pour into glass and garnish with fruit.
Photography: (featured) Robert Strickland, Courtesy Corralejo Tequila, Courtesy Rivertop Grill, J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa