9 Cocktails for Cinco de Mayo

It’s Cinco de Mayo time, which means it’s time to have a few cocktails. The 5th of May falls on a Friday this year, providing the perfect excuse to have a few friends over to celebrate with a few cocktails. While the first drink that comes to mind might be a traditional margarita, there are a ton of awesome cocktails out there of the tequila and mescal variety that can make for an excellent party drink. Serve one (or a few) of these at your Cinco party, sit back, and let the compliments start rolling in.

Caballo Blanco
From The Dorsey in The Venetian Las Vegas

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. El Tesoro Tequila
0.5 oz. Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
1 oz. pineapple juice
0.5 oz. lime juice
0.75 oz. ginger juice
2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Directions: Shake together and pour into a collins glass. Top w/ club soda. Garnish with candied ginger.

Clarified Avocado Margarita
Created by San Francisco Mixologist Leon Vazquez

Ingredients:
16 oz. Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
6 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
4 oz. Simple Syrup
30 dashes Orange Bitters
1 Avocado
2 Serrano Peppers
1 Bushel of Cilantro (Approximately 40 leaves)
6 tablespoons Salt
40 oz. Whole Milk
Lime Twist for Garnish

Directions: Combine 4 ounces lime juice, simple syrup, orange bitters, avocado, peppers and cilantro into an airtight container. Coarsely grind the peppers, avocado and cilantro. Add 14 ounces boiling water and immediately cover so that no liquid evaporates. Let mixture sit overnight, then strain the mixture into a clean container and add Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro.

Bring whole milk to a boil. Add the boiling milk and the remaining 2 ounces of lime juice to the strained mixture; the milk will curdle. Strain the liquid slowly with cheesecloth. Pour liquid into a clean container, cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve neat with a lime twist.

Afternoon in Jalisco
Created by New York City Mixologist Christopher Reyes

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
.25 oz. Absinthe
1 oz Ginger Beer
.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
.75 oz. Fresh Pineapple Juice
.75 oz. Simple Syrup
Candied Ginger and Lemon Wheel for Garnish

Directions: Combine Tequila Don Julio 70, fresh lime juice, fresh pineapple juice, simple syrup and absinth in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain contents over ice into a highball glass. Top with house ginger beer and garnish with candied ginger and lemon wheel.

Seymour Station

Bartender Laura Kruming (Sable Kitchen & Bar, Chicago) created this earthy, funky margarita riff with muddled cherry tomatoes “immune system boosting” aloe vera pearls.

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Suerte Blanco Tequila
.25 oz. Chareau Aloe Liqueur
.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
Pinch of Salt
2 Cherry Tomatoes, muddled
Pinch of Aloe Vera Pearls

Directions: Shake all ingredients and strain into a footed ale glass over ice and aloe vera pearls. Optional: Garnish with a watermelon rind.