17 Traditional Mexican Drink Recipes

You can follow this step-by-step to cut your pineapple to yield juicy pieces of fruit, but what happens to all that trimmed waste? When it comes to repurposing inedible pineapple skin and the fibrous core, you can add sugar and water to those by-products and make fermented, Mexican tepache.

Get the Tepache recipe.

Infusing alcohol is one of our favorite ways to get creative with cocktails, and it works especially well with jalapeños. A long steep in tequila allows the fresh verdant flavor of the pepper to come through, along with that signature spice. To balance the heat, we recommend the addition of sliced cucumber to cool things down (but don't worry, they're still plenty hot!).

Get the Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas recipe.

Part watermelon juice, part limeade, and 100% refreshing, watermelon agua fresca just might be the drink of the summer. It's slightly sweet, making it a perfect daytime treat or as a mocktail option at a BBQ. (Of course, you could stir in a shot of tequila or vodka if you want it boozy.)

Get the Watermelon Agua Fresca recipe.

If you've never had a Michelada, you're in for a treat. The addition of hot sauce and lime juice add a spicy/sour kick that takes your average light Mexican beer from good to great. Thanks to our secret ingredient (soy sauce!), there's also a hint of umami flavor that keeps you coming back for more.

Get the Michelada recipe.

The margarita, now one of the most popular cocktails in the world, is thought to have started out as the variation on another prohibition-era drink called the "Daisy." Spanish for "daisy," the marg swapped in tequila for the requisite brandy and lime juice for lemon juice, and a classic was born.

Get the Classic Margaritas recipe.

Though the margarita has become a staple of American bars, the margarita's pink-hued cousin, the Paloma, is heralded by many in Mexico as the better cocktail. It's beloved not just for its bittersweet, citrusy grapefruit flavor, but also for its simplicity. Not counting ice, all you need is 4 ingredients: tequila, lime juice, salt, and grapefruit soda.

Get the Classic Paloma recipe.

Horchata is a popular and refreshing drink that takes on different forms across many cultures, but it always starts with a soaked nut, seed, or grain. This classic Mexican version, Horchata de Arroz, is made by soaking rice and almonds with cinnamon and blending everything together with milk and sweetener.

Get the Horchata recipe.

With an earthy, slightly smoky flavor, mezcal brings a uniquely savory quality to the typically tequila-based margarita. To spice things up, we add a colorful salt rim spiked with grapefruit zest and red pepper flakes. Tweak the mixture to your preference with different citrus (orange would also be delicious!) or other spices.

Get the Mezcal Margarita recipe.

Nothing says summer like pomegranate and grapefruit... and tequila! This super-yummy, fruity Paloma slush gets a kick thanks to spicy chili powder-salt rim. Garnish with fresh ruby red grapefruit wedges for a presentation that’ll prove to your neighbors you’re this summer’s backyard party master.

Get the Frozen Paloma recipe.

There are a bunch of ways to infuse a drink with fruit like steeping some actual fruit in the alcohol itself or making a syrup out of berries or fruit juice. In this case, we have packed peachy goodness into this margarita with two ingredients: peach schnapps and peach puree.

Get the Peach Margarita recipe.

A classic bulldog margarita, or a Mexican coronita, is a simple drink made from flipping a beer into a frozen margarita. Corona beer is traditional, but try it with your favorite Mexican beer too.

Get the Bulldog Margaritas recipe.

A sort of effervescent, less-sweet version of a margarita, only 3 ingredients are required for ranch water: tequila, lime juice, and seltzer. (Preferably Mexican Topo Chico; some claim it’s not a real ranch water without it!) We like adding a splash of orange liqueur like Cointreau for a little added sweetness and citrus flavor too.

Get the Ranch Water recipe.

How do you make a classic Mexican Jarritos soda even better? Add tequila! The light effervescence, bright colors, and lush fruity flavors like pineapple, tamarind, and guava are perfect for cocktails, especially margaritas.

Get the Jarritos Margaritas recipe.

A Cadillac margarita is basically a higher-end margarita made with a high quality tequila (typically a reposado) and grand marnier. Reposado tequila will have notes of oak and vanilla, making this margarita really stand out.

Get the Cadillac Margarita recipe.

When it's bone-chillingly cold, nothing warms us up faster than a mug of hot chocolate. We love the addition of cinnamon and cayenne in this Mexican version, meant for true spice lovers. If you prefer your drinks on the milder side, feel free to forgo the cayenne in favor of a spice that adds less heat, like chili powder.

Get the Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe.

Get the best of both worlds with this frozen cocktail inspired by the top two Mexican drinks—a margarita and a paloma.

Get the Grapefruit Margarita recipe.

Champurrado is the best kind of hot chocolate you could have on a cold winter day. Unlike the plain, watery version you make with the powdered stuff, this hot chocolate is thick, rich, and decadent. It’s technically considered a type of atole, a warm drink invented by the Aztecs that uses masa harina to thicken it. That’s right, this drink uses masa harina, which is typically used to make corn tortillas. Instead of tasting like a Choco Taco, though, the masa lends a delicately sweet corn flavor and gives the champurrado a delightful richness.

Get the Champurrado recipe.