While everyone loves a well-mixed margarita, sometimes you just want a few drink recipes with tequila that aren't as well known and can really bring the wow factor to whatever party or get-together that you're planning. Thankfully, any one of these thirteen tequila cocktail recipes will impress even the most skeptical friend in attendance.
Brave Bull
Similar to a black Russian, you only need two ingredients to make a Brave Bull: Kahlúa and tequila.
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the Kahlúa and tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
Long Beach Iced Tea
If you enjoy getting all of your drinking over and done with early in the evening, make yourself a glass of this cranberry-flavored variant of the infamous Long Island Iced Tea.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a collins glass filled with ice, combine the triple sec, vodka, rum, tequila, and gin.
- Top with cranberry juice and stir thoroughly.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Watermelon Mint Smash
This summery cocktail combines fresh mint and watermelon with simple syrup, club soda, and tequila for the perfect beverage to bring along on a picnic.
Ingredients
- 5 mint sprigs
- ¾ cup cubed watermelon
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce club soda
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, muddle the mint sprigs and watermelon.
- Add simple syrup, club soda, and tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garish with a mint sprig.
Tequila Highball
A classic, no-fuss cocktail, the tequila highball puts a tequila-based twist on the regular whiskey highball and tops it off with lime seltzer.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Lime flavored seltzer
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, pour the tequila.
- Add ice and top with lime seltzer.
- Stir the ingredients and garnish with a lime wedge.
Ranch Water
Despite the drink's alarming name, you can rest assured that it doesn't include any dips or dressings in its ingredients list; rather, to make a ranch water you just combine lime juice, tequila, and Topo Chico to make this refreshing beverage.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2½ ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Topo Chico
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, combine the lime juice, tequila, and ice.
- Top with the Topo Chico and garnish with a lime wedge.
Coconut Margarita
An untypical margarita flavor, this coconut margarita brings the feeling of an island paradise to your tastebuds.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Coconut shavings for garnish
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces coconut cream
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 2 ounces tequila
- Ice
Instructions
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of a martini glass and dip it into a plate full of coconut shavings. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, coconut cream, triple sec, and tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared martini glass.
Tequila Screwdriver
You can't go wrong with a brunch cocktail, and this recipe is so easy that anyone can make a tequila screwdriver in their sleep.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Orange juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass filled with ice, pour the tequila.
- Top with orange juice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Mexican Mule
A Mexican mule deviates slightly from the Moscow mule in that is pairs the ginger beer and lime juice with silver tequila instead of vodka.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Ice
- Ginger beer
Instructions
- In a copper mule mug, combine the lime juice and tequila.
- Add ice and top with ginger beer.
- Thoroughly stir.
Gold Cadillac Cocktail
A fruity and tart drink, you can make a Gold Cadillac Cocktail by mixing lime juice, triple sec, gold tequila, and pineapple juice together.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce triple sec
- 2 ounces gold tequila
- Ice
- Pineapple juice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, triple sec, and gold tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with ice.
- Top with pineapple juice.
Spiced Apple Cider
Perfect for the fall months, this spiced apple cider brings lime juice, apple cider, triple sec, gold tequila, and a dash of cinnamon together in a delightfully autumnal drink.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 ounces apple cider
- ½ ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce gold tequila
- Dash cinnamon
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, apple cider, triple sec, gold tequila, and cinnamon.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a tall glass.
Gold Matador
Similar to the gold cadillac cocktail, the gold matador mixes lime juice, tequila, and pineapple juice together to create a well-balanced and fruity drink.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces tequila
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, tequila, and pineapple juice.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
Polar Bear Cocktail
Certainly having a more sophisticated arrangement than your average cocktail, the Polar Bear requires a few unusual ingredients like celery bitters and vermouth to create an impressive dinner drink.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce crème de menthe
- ¾ ounce vermouth
- 2 ounces mezcal
- 3-4 drops celery bitters
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish (optional)
- Lemon wheel for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the crème de menthe, vermouth, Mezcal, and celery bitters.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with the optional mint sprig and lemon wheel.
Loaded Pistol
This loaded pistol has a bit of a bite as it brings sweet vermouth, mezcal, Strega liqueur, and grapefruit bitters together.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounces sweet vermouth
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- ½ ounce Strega liqueur
- 2-4 drops grapefruit bitters
- Ice
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, combine the sweet vermouth, Mezcal, Strega liqueur, and bitters.
- Stir the ingredients together and strain into an ice filled glass.
Garnishing Tequila Cocktails
Once you've finished mixing your drink, it's important that you don't skip garnishing it in some way. Even the simplest of fruit or herbal accents can turn a cocktail from an average sight into an extraordinary one. Here are a few of the ways that you can garnish a tequila-based drink:
- Giving your drink's glass a salted rim is a classic way to garnish a tequila cocktail.
- Fresh fruit wedges on the rim add a pop of color to any cocktail.
- Peeling small sections of citrus fruits and twirling them into a spiral shape adds an elegant touch.
- Edible flowers instill a lovely botanical scent and appearance to any drink.
- Topping off a drink with a touch of spices like ground cayenne pepper or chili pepper flakes adds a bit of heat.
- Similarly, dropping in a few dashes of hot sauce to your cocktail can give it a much needed edge.
Delicious Tequila Mixers
Now that you've explored these thirteen delectable tequila drinks, you have the expertise to experiment with the silver and gold liquor. To get you started, here are some of the best mixers to combine with tequila:
- Pineapple juice
- Orange juice
- Agave syrup
- Grapefruit soda or juice
- Lemon-lime soda
- Clue soda
- Tomato juice
- Coconut water
- Cola
Margaritas and More
Unfortunately, the margarita has become synonymous with tequila cocktails in most people's minds, leaving behind all of the possibilities for the classic and contemporary recipes that you can make when you have a bottle of tequila on-hand. So, break the Margarita cycle, and take a stab at making one of these thirteen tequila drinks yourself. If those aren't enough options, try some tequila and soda drinks.
