25 Easy Tequila Cocktails To Drink All Year Long
And we're not just talking margaritas.
Lukewarm take: Tequila is not just for warm weather, the beach, or shots. Sure, a margarita enjoyed in the summertime (or even on Cinco de Mayo) does hit different, but we're here to say that we've got 25 recipes for tequila cocktails that are perfect no matter the day. And we're not just talking margaritas either! These recipes for palomas, tequila sunsets, and more will make you feel like you're on vacation in the dead of winter. Although if you can sip a tequila sunrise near the pool, that's our ideal serving suggestion. 😎
Before we get to mixing, let's learn a bit of Tequila: 101. Derived from the agave plant (like its cousin mezcal), tequila actually comes in five distinct forms with very different flavor profiles to match: tequila blanco, tequila añejo, tequila reposado, tequila joven, and extra añejo. You're likely familiar with the blanco variety (also known as "silver"), which is un-aged and the perfect addition to your next margarita. But don't stop there! Tequila reposado, which is aged for two months in oak barrels and is a bit more top shelf, is the best pick for when you need a bit more spice (perhaps for a tequilada!?).
Once you've picked your poison, it's time to mix! Arguably the easiest tequila cocktail is Ranch Water; it's just tequila, Topo Chico (or your favorite sparkling water), spritz of lime, and you're done. Want to go a bit fancier? We love adding a bit of Cointreau to lend some margarita vibes. Speaking of, we don't blame you if you just want to use that tequila for a round of margs. We've basically created every margarita you could dream of (including a frozen sangria margarita and mimosa margarita), and you're definitely going to want to try them all.
Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas
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.
Ranch Water
A sort of effervescent, less-sweet version of a margarita, only 3 ingredients are required for ranch eater: tequila, lime juice, and seltzer. (Preferably 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.
Spiked Coconut Limeade
To unlock the delicious concentrated flavor found in citrus skins, we made an oleo saccharum for this cocktail. Let us explain: Granulated sugar draws the flavorful essential oils out of citrus peels as they sit at room temperature. We love watching the sugar transform into a beautiful syrup, perfect for flavoring seltzer, cocktails, or desserts.
Get the Spiked Coconut Limeade recipe.
Classic Margarita
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.
Classic Paloma
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.
Long Island Iced Tea
Long Island iced teas are the ultimate cocktail mystery. How does this classic cocktail, with its combination of 5 alcohols, manage to taste incredible and resemble the taste of a lemony sweet tea?! We highly recommend making a homemade sour mix with lemon, lime, and grapefruit to add a bit more complexity that takes this drink up several notches.
Get the Long Island Iced Tea recipe.
Pineapple Margarita
When we’re feeling the beach vibes, we reach for a pineapple margarita. Fresh and fruity with the perfect kick of tequila, this margarita will take you straight to the shore, frosty glass in hand, in less time than it takes to squeeze those limes.
Get the Pineapple Margarita recipe.
Tequila Sunrise
PSA: You don't have to be on vacation to enjoy a tequila sunrise. These orange juice, grenadine, and vodka sippers are great any time!
Get the Tequila Sunrise recipe.
Salted & Spiced Watermelon Margaritas
This clever recipe combines everything magical about margaritas (tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and a salt rim), with a kick of heat from fresh jalapeños and a refreshing sweetness from the watermelon juice. Salt accentuates watermelon's sweet taste and accentuates the tangy margarita base too. Make this for Cinco de Mayo and then all summer long.
Tequila Sunset
We're suckers for any tequila cocktail, but this recipe might get us more excited than a margarita, which says A LOT. If you wish a tequila sunrise was more tart than sweet, you'll enjoy this Tequila Sunset (which uses grapefruit juice for the traditional orange juice). We love the grenadine for color, but if you don't have on hand skip it—the flavor still works.
Get the Tequila Sunset recipe.
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
This recipe requires a little forethought. Chop up some fresh watermelon and throw it in the freezer the night before you make the margs—this ensures the drinks are perfectly slushy and ICE cold. (If you forgot, don't fret! Two hours in the freezer should do the trick.)
Get the Frozen Watermelon Margarita recipe.
Frozen Strawberry Margarita
This fruit-forward margarita works best with frozen strawberries, so it doesn't get watered down! We love adding fresh basil for some sweet anise-y flavor, but other fresh herbs like mint or even cilantro can kick up the flavor of this sunny cocktail.
Get the Frozen Strawberry Margarita recipe.
Pink Señoritas
Like a margarita with a softer, cuter side, the Señorita ditches limes for pink lemonade and lemon juice.
Get the Pink Señoritas recipe.
Frozen Paloma
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.
Frozen Blue Moscato Margaritas
Wine lovers will absolutely love these margarita slushies because of the tasty addition of sweet moscato. The bright hue of this drink is achieved with blue curaçao, an orange liqueur that was created on the island of Curaçao in the Caribbean. We love garnishing these with blueberries in the summer (particularly to keep with the bright blue theme), but use whatever fruit you like.
Frozen Tequila Sunrise Margarita
Can't decide between a tequila sunrise and a margarita? Compromise with this frozen cocktail that's got the best of both.
Mimosa Margaritas
A classic bubbly mimosa + a sweet tart margarita—there might not be a more perfect brunch cocktail.
Get the Mimosa Margarita recipe.
Cadillac Margarita
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.
Peach Margarita
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.
Skinny Margarita
Margaritas are pretty slimmed down (or “skinny”) already, ingredients-wise, so all we’re doing here is removing some of the refined sugar and replacing it with more natural ingredients. Because orange liqueurs like Cointreau or triple sec are traditionally used to add sweetness and a little extra citrus flavor to a margarita, we’re going with orange juice (fresh is best) and agave instead. This means not only are these “skinny margs” lower in calories, they’ve also got slightly less alcohol (meaning you can enjoy more of them 😉). Win win!
Get the Skinny Margarita recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
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